BUTTERCUP 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2331
HER MAJESTY THURSDAY 2021 Oil on Panel, 21 x 17 in, TD0819
Hunt Slonem’s paintings are distinctively cosmopolitan, even in their depictions of exotic birds, jungle scenes, and animals. Long a staple of New York, Slonem has also invested time and resources into surrounding himself with nature, whether that be at one of the plantations that he owns in the Louisiana or in his exotic plant and animal-filled city apartment. An avid aviculturist, whose boyhood memories of Hawaii’s tropical scenery, lifelong care of orchids, and love of birds inform his saturated palate, Slonem brings the wild into a coiffed sophistication, with diamonddusted bunny paintings, glamorously plumed birds, and sparkling butterflies. At his second solo exhibition at Douglas Flanders & Associates, Slonem’s works are supplemented with ritzy decor you might imagine in his dishy Manhattan pad. Chandeliers, vintage velvet chairs, and ornate candle holders surround the gallery, making you feel as if you got an invited to a snazzy party at Slonem’s house for the new year. You might think of Andy Warhol’s iconic Marilyn’s as you look at one turquoise-painted wall of the gallery, covered in small framed portraits of bunnies. They each featured an outline painting of the animal on jewel toned colors. Slonem manages to give a personality with the playful lines. They are each one a little bunny celebrity. An earlier work featured in the show, Heliconia (1988) nestles large-beaked tropical birds amidst a setting of densely packed island fauna. Slonem has been an advocate for environmental causes and wildlife protection, and the work lovingly depicts the birds in their natural habitat as a plea to allowing them to continue to exist. The painting acts as an ode to the birds, a celebration of their beauty and magnificence. Slonem has often talked about the divine in his work. “I have always been sneered at for being metaphysical and talking about spirit and the divine and joy,” he told the Louisiana-based publication Bayou Brief. “These are not loved subjects in the art world.” In his career, Slonem has taken on religious subjects, portraying saints and angels with a lush transcendence. His portraits of Abraham Lincoln and Queen Elizabeth recall this kind of adoration. Her Majesty Thursday (2021) features scratch marks that have the effect of adornment. In Abraham Lincoln (2021) a striped background adds a sense of grandeur to the late president’s visage. There’s also a reverence he takes in his depiction of the power of nature. Whether he is luxuriating in the brilliance of plants or lovingly filling the canvas with butterflies, Slonem conjures the spiritual power of the natural world. His use of repetition acts as a kind of prayer: recreating each bunny over and over again becomes a kind of ritualistic act. His recent diamond dust technique brings this reverent glamour to the next level. In the Pink (2019) a portrait of two bunnies sprinkled with diamond dust, can be seen as an offering to the majesty of the animal. Collected in over 250 museums, with over 350 solo shows under his belt since the mid–1970s, Slonem’s work, as well as his writing about art and his process, holds an ethereal, extravagant place in the art world.
Written by Sheila Regan, December 2021 Sheila Regan is a Minneapolis-based Journalist and Arts Writer
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BLACK DIAMOND DUST 2021 Oil and Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Canvas, 30 x 36 in, TD0388
6
7
8
9
LORIES CHATTERING Oil on Canvas, 60 x 40 in, TD0838
10
2021
11
MAGIC HUTCH 2021 Oil on Canvas, 72 x 84 in, CX0437 12
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 2021 Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, TD0717 NAME HERE, 2021 Oil on Canvas, 10 x 8 in, CSR0093
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LUCKY CHARM 2 Screen Print, 41 x 28.5 in, Ed. 10, 9
1997
MEXICAN RED HEAD AMAZON 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0893
LORIE 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0914
YELLOW FRONT AMAZON 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0529
AMAZON 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0528
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UNTITLED 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2612
MOLLY 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0598
UNTITLED 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2624
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SKY KING 2
2021
Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0442
BAYOU LA FOUCHE NAPOLEONVILLE Oil on Panel, 20 x 26 in, CSR2906
PALE BLUE 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0770
2021
LOUD WHISPER COCKATOOS
2021
Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, JW0110
17
MONSOON LORIES Oil on Canvas, 40 x 60 in, TD0596
2021
19
MOLUCCANS 2 HAWAII 1961 Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, JW0228
2022
SUNDAY 2021 Oil and Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0466
21
CARDINALS 2021 Oil on Panel, 30 x 42 in, CSR2749
22
LORIES CHATTERING 2021 Oil on Canvas, 60 x 40 in, TD0838
CARDINALS, 2021 Oil on Panel, 30 x 42 in 23
WHITE BUTTERFLIES MARCH 2021 Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, CSR2716
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UNTITLED 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2595
TOTEM BILLIE 2020 Oil on Canvas, 40 x 60 in, CSR1922
BLACK DIAMOND DUST 2021 Oil and Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Canvas, 30 x 36 in, TD0388
CARDINALS 2011 Oil on Canvas, 40 x 30 in, CX0288
LAMP LIGHTER STARRY NIGHT Oil on Canvas, 44 x 66.25 in, CSR0570
2020
PINK AUDREY 2021 Oil and Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, TD0287
27
MARGO 2021 Oil and Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0393
CARDINALS
2011
DOUBLE ORANGE Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0440
Oil on Canvas, 40 x 30 in, CX0288
TAHITIAN LORY
2020
2021
OLD LACE 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0916
MISTY 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0920
FORBIDDEN CITY - SCORE 3
2021
Oil on Panel, 26 x 22 in, CX0845
Oil on Panel, 23.75 x 23.5 in, CSR0034
2 PLAY
IN THE PINK
2019
Oil and Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Panel, 26 x 21 in, KFJ03136
CARDINALS
2021
2021
DOUBLE RED
Oil on Panel, 30 x 42 in, CSR2749
Oil on Panel, 13 x 18 in, CSR2720
2019
Oil on Panel, 20 x 24 in, KFJ03046
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ROSARIO 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0141
RED CLOVER 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0463
MARGULIES 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0457
JANE SCOTT 2020 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR0727
HER MAJESTY 2021 Oil on Panel, 20 x 16 in, CX0848
MARS 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0913
LAVENDAR 2021 Oil on Panel, 11.5 x 8.5 in, TD0755
HUTCH LITE (MARSH ) 2021 Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, TD0739
FORBIDDEN CITY Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0921
VIOLACLOUS
2019
2021
Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2273
COUPLE 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0642
BLUE MOON 2021 Oil and Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0171
BLUE BOY 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0459
UNTITLED
2016
BUTTERCUP 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2331
Oil on Canvas, 20 x 16 in, CSR0272
MAUI
UNTITLED 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2585
2021
Oil on Panel, 24 x 20 in, CRK03399
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
2021
Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, TD0717
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3 OVAL 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0860
LUCKY CHARM Screen Print, 41 x 28.5 in
1997
TOTEM BILLIE
LUCKY CHARM 2 Screen Print, 41 x 28.5 in
2020
1997
Oil on Canvas, 40 x 60 in, CSR1922
BLACK DIAMOND DUST 2021 Oil and Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Canvas, 30 x 36 in, TD0388
MELLOW GRAY 2021 Oil, Resin, Acrylic and Diamond Dust on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0196
2 DAY 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 6 in, CX0658
MAGIC HUTCH
2021
Oil on Canvas, 72 x 84 in, CX0437
LAMP LIGHTER STARRY NIGHT Oil on Canvas, 44 x 66.25 in, CSR0570
2020
PALE SCORE 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2387 UNTITLED
ST. MARTINVILLE 2021 Oil on Panel, 28 x 36 in, CX0046
2019
Oil on Panel, 9 x 7 in, TAM00622
UNTITLED 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2595
UNTITLED 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR1503
WHITE BUTTERFLIES MARCH
2021
Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, CSR2716
BLACK DIAMOND 2021 Oil and Diamond Dust on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0663
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Exhibition List 2 Day, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 6 in, CX0658 (32) 2 Play, 2021, Oil on Panel, 13 x 18 in, CSR2720 (29) 3 Oval, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0860 (Cover, 32) Abraham Lincoln, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, TD0717 (8, 13, 31) Amazon, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0528 (9, 15) Bayou La Fouche Napoleanville, 2021, Oil on Panel, 20 x 26 in, CSR2906 (16) Black Diamond, 2021, Oil & Diamond Dust on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0663 (11, 33) Black Diamond Dust, 2021, Oil & Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Canvas, 30 x 36 in, TD0388 (6–7, 26, 32)
Magic Hutch, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 72 x 84 in, CX0437 (12, 32) Margo, 2021, Oil & Acrylic with Diamond Dust, 10 x 8 in, TD0393 (11, 28) Margulies, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0457 (11, 30) MARS, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0913 (11, 30) Maui, 2021, Oil on Wood, 10 x 8 in, CSR2273 (11, 31) Mellow Gray, 2021, Oil, Resin, Acrylic & Diamond Dust, 10 x 8 in, TD0196 (11, 32) Mexican Red Head Amazon, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0893 (9, 15) Misty, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0920 (28)
Blue Boy, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0459 (11, 31)
Molly, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0598 (16)
Blue Moon, 2021, Oil & Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0171 (11, 31)
Moluccans 2 Hawaii 1961, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, JW0228 (20)
Buttercup, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2331 (2–3, 11, 31)
Monsoon Lories, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 40 x 60 in, TD0596 (9, 18–19)
Cardinals, 2021, Oil on Panel, 30 x 42 in, CSR2749 (9, 22–23, 29)
Old Lace, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0916 (11, 28)
Cardinals, 2011, Oil on Canvas, 40 x 30 in, CX0288 (8, 26, 28, Back Cover) Couple, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0642 (31)
Pale Score, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2387 (11, 33) Pale Blue, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0770 (16)
Double Orange, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0440 (11, 28)
Pink Audrey, 2021, Oil & Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, TD0287 (27)
Double Red, 2019, Oil on Panel, 20 x 24 in, KFJ03046 (29)
Red Clover, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0463 (11, 30)
Forbidden City, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0921 (11, 31)
Rosario, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0141 (30)
Forbidden City – Score 3, 2021, Oil on Panel, 26 x 22 in, CX0845 (28)
Sky King 2, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0442 (16)
Heliconia, 1988, Oil on Canvas, 72 x 84 in (8) Her Majesty, 2021, Oil on Panel, 20, 16 in, CX0848 (30)
Sunday, 2021, Oil & Acrylic with Diamond Dust on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0466 (21)
Her Majesty Thursday, 2021, Oil on Panel, 21 x 17 in, TD0819 (4)
Tahitian Lory, 2020, Oil on Panel, 22.75 x 23.5 in, CSR0034 (28)
Hutch Lite (Marsh), 2021, Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, TD0739 (30)
Totem Billie, 2020, Oil on Canvas, 40 x 60 in, CSR1922 (26, 32)
In the Pink, 2019, Oil, Acrylic & Diamond Dust on Panel, 26 x 21 in, KFJ03136 (29)
Untitled, 2016, Oil on Panel, 24 x 20 in, CRK03399 (9, 31)
Jane Scott, 2020, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR0727 (11, 30) Lamp Lighter Starry Night, 2020, Oil on Canvas, 44 x 66.25 in, CSR0570 (8, 26, 33)
St. Martinville, 2021, Oil on Panel, 28 x 36 in, CX0046 (33)
Untitled, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2585 (11, 31) Untitled, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2595 (11, 25, 33) Untitled, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2612 (16)
Lavendar, 2021, Oil on Panel, 11.5 x 8.5 in, TD0755 (30)
Untitled, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR2624 (11, 16)
Lorie, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0914 (9, 15)
Untitled, 2020, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CSR1503 (11, 33)
Lories Chattering, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 60 x 40 in, TD0838 (9, 10, 23)
Untitled, 2019, Oil on Panel, 9 x 7 in, TAM00622 (11, 33)
Loud Whisper Cockatoos, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, JW0110 (17) Lucky Charm, 1997, Screen Print, 41 x 28.5 in (32) Lucky Charm 2, 1997, Screen Print, 41 x 28.5 in (14, 32)
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Violaclous, 2019, Oil on Panel, 20 x 16 in, CSR0272 (31) White Butterflies March, 2021, Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in, CSR2716 (24, 33) Yellow Front Amazon, 2021, Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, CX0529 (9, 15)
HUNT SLONEM AMERICAN, B. 1951, KITTERY, MAINE LIVES AND WORKS IN NEW YORK CITY AND AT VARIOUS PLANTATIONS WITHIN LOUISIANA After completing studies at Tulane University of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Arts, Slonem studied painting at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in New York. He was awarded numerous scholarships, among other the National Endowment for the Arts Grant in Painting (1991). Hunt Slonem is well known for his Neo-Expressionist paintings of butterflies, rabbits and tropical birds. He brings a whimsical, freewheeling sense of awe, wonder and detail to his wild array of brightly hued paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. For inspiration, Slonem surrounds himself with ever-expanding quirky collections, from Neo-Gothic furniture to countless objéts d’art from flea markets. Besides his various New York City spaces, he also has acquired and restored multiple historically important Louisiana plantations. Hunt Slonem’s artworks are in the permanent collections of more than 250 museums, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. His works are also represented in private art collections all over the world, including those of many celebrities. Furthermore, his works can be found in collections such as those of AT&T, the Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, Continental Airlines, Goldman Sachs & Co., IBM Corporation, the Marriott Corporation, Paine Webber Inc. and Readers Digest Inc. On the basis of a fascination with exotica that Hunt Slonem discovered during his childhood in Hawaii and a stay in Managua, Nicaragua, as an exchange student, the artist has indulged his interest in tropical flora and fauna in the heart of New York since 1973. Birds, butterflies or blossoms populate his supremely colorful works in serial sequences. In particular, various species of birds appear as a constantly recurring principal motif — serving as symbols of a spirituality that can already be found in the early works of the artist. The results are figurative pictures on structured backgrounds that are reminiscent of wallpaper patterns. Expression and concrete representation coalesce in an explosion of vibrant colorfulness. SEE MORE HERE: HUNTSLONEM.COM AND HOPUP.SHOP © 2022 DOUGLAS FLANDERS & ASSOCIATES AND HUNT SLONEM ALL IMAGES ARE COURTESY OF HUNT SLONEM, HUNTSLONEM.COM AND DOUGLAS FLANDERS & ASSSOCIATES DESIGN SYRIL MCNALLY, SYRILMCNALLY.COM PRINTING SMARTPRESS, SMARTPRESS.COM
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COVER 3 OVAL 2021 Oil on Panel, 10 x 8 in, TD0860
CARDINALS 2011 Oil on Canvas 40 x 30 in, CX0288