Picture This: Animal Art

October 5th, 2024

In our blog series, “Picture This,” we use the magic of Photoshop to present our artists’ latest work in a whole new light. If you’re unable to stop by the gallery, we hope to help you virtually experience these fresh, new works in beautiful, modern settings.

In this installment of the series, we imagine how you can refresh and elevate any room in your home with art that celebrates the beauty of animals. Throughout history, animals have held a significant place in the realm of art, symbolizing various aspects of human experience and the natural world. From the ancient cave paintings in Lascaux, France to the grand sculptures and detailed paintings of more recent centuries, animals have been a source of inspiration and reverence.

Whether you’re looking for a majestic painting of horses above your mantel or a whimsical piece featuring bunnies for your home office, we can show you how to transform any room into a space for dreaming and inspiration with our Gallery MAR artists’ latest creations. From living rooms to bedrooms, and everything in between, every space deserves love and attention.

So if you’re on the hunt for that final touch of elegance for your home, find inspiration, tips, and more with these captivating animal-themed artworks.

PICTURE THIS:

Kenneth Peloke, “Autumn’s Breeze,” oil, 48″ x 60″

Part of the wonder of bringing animal imagery into your home is bringing with it the spirit and symbolism of that animal. Through Kenneth Peloke’s beautifully hyper realistic oil paintings, you can bring the strength and grace of the mighty horse into your home. In this piece, “Autumn’s Breeze,” Peloke implements textures and a sepia tone that gives the work an intentionally aged, vintage appearance, making it feel like a classic piece, to be cherished for generations. We love how this piece creates a bold yet peaceful statement in your home that will endure through the years and the different interior design styles that go along with it.

PICTURE THIS:

Hunt Slonem, “All Gathered,” oil, 48″ x 48″

Artist Hunt Slonem is renowned for his animal imagery from butterflies and birds to his beloved bunnies. Slonem likes to say: “Rabbits are always welcome,” and this piece underlines just that. The overlapping contours of the bunnies create a feeling of whimsy and joy on the gold and white background. Rabbits often symbolize good fortune, so if you believe in the power of animal symbolism like the artist Hunt Slonem does, this piece could just bring you and your loved ones good luck. At the very least, it will bring beauty and joy.

PICTURE THIS:

KOLLABS, “Lukas and Adrian,” mixed media, 60″ x 48″

KOLLABS duo, Anke Schofield and Luis Garcia-Nerey are beloved for the ways in which they juxtapose nature and culture, modern and vintage. In this piece, two sweet foxes share the stage with a gorgeous, ornate chandelier, bathing the piece in elegance and understated charm. With its minimalist color palette and bold imagery, this piece has the versatility to harmonize with any interior design style.

PICTURE THIS:

Left to right: Katherine Heigl, “The Fox and the Storm,” mixed media, 36″ x 36″ | KOLLABS, “Wyatt & Winnie,” mixed media, 60″ x 60″

We love seeing how different artists’ work pairs together. The fox portrait by artist, actress, and activist Katherine Heigl and the deer and fawn mixed media piece by the KOLLABS duo are certainly in dialogue with each other here. The orange and amber hues contrasted with the cool aqua tones make these works feel fresh and captivating, while their subject matter gives the space a sense of the quiet majesty of nature. With these two pieces, you can bring the outdoors into your home in a beautiful, powerful way.

PICTURE THIS:

Hunt Slonem, “Monsoon Rain Ascension,” oil, 36″ x 48″

Hunt Slonem is a master at taking a seemingly simple, childlike subject and elevating it to a high-level of beauty and sophistication. The sweetness and charm of the butterflies in this piece are transcended by the luminous lapis lazuli and silver background, giving a sparkling sheen of iridescence to the piece and its home. While many of Slonem’s works are small-scale and perfect for gallery wall installations and forgotten corners of the home, works like this piece “Monsoon Rain Ascension” demand space to be fully appreciated, washing viewers in color and feeling.

PICTURE THIS:

Sara Edgar, “Somewhere Warm,” oil, 16″ x 20″

While we love the ways many of our Gallery MAR artists capture the power and majesty of nature’s creatures, we can’t help but adore the way local artist Sara Edgar captures the playful quirkiness of our beloved creatures. The sweet dachshund in this piece, “Somewhere Warm,” hilariously sports a blue and white striped T-shirt, exuding the fun vibe of summer days. Edgar’s work is the perfect way to display your family’s endearing charm and personality in your home.

PICTURE THIS:

Kenneth Peloke, “Wandering,” oil, 40″ x 40″

Gallery MAR artist Kenneth Peloke is well known for his hyper realistic, oil paintings of wild stallions and American bison, but his new abstracted animal works are just as powerful. These abstract animal paintings use bold colors, high contrast, and expressive marks to create dynamic works that mimic the dynamism of the animals they depict.

Written and Photoshopped by Veronica Vale