Hunt Slonem embraces nature's ephemeral beauty, bringing a nurturing, spiritual essence to his work. Throughout his career, he has focused on exotic birds, rabbits, and butterflies, often using flat spaces with simple forms and vibrant, textural brushstrokes inspired by German Expressionism. Scholar Henry Geldzahler notes Slonem’s admiration for artists like Malcolm Morley, Francesco Clemente, and Roberto Juarez, whose works convey a spiritual aura. Despite this depth, Slonem’s work retains a lightness of being.
Slonem's connection to his subjects began in childhood in Hawaii and deepened in Central America, influenced by the local devotion and spiritual fervor. His New York studio, home to his collection of exotic birds, serves as a lush sanctuary where he captures his surroundings with rhythm and style. Art critic John Ashbery describes Slonem’s depictions as “dazzling explosions of the variable life around us.”
Traveling extensively, Slonem became aware of biodiversity and cultural differences, which influenced his older works featuring spiritual objects like saints. His recent series focuses solely on the beauty of the animals, with simple, repetitive figures filling his compositions. Geldzahler comments on the “esthetic of ocular activity” in Slonem’s work, where the viewer’s eye constantly moves to decode the patterns. The misted shapes and vibrant colors of his neo-expressionist style celebrate the exotic worlds of these animals. Slonem describes his work as "Exotica," creating joy and surprise through his evolving techniques while maintaining consistent themes over the past decade.
Source: HuntSlonem.com