Hunt Slonem. Magical World
Magical World, an exhibition of works by American artist Hunt Slonem, is on view in the Bosse Hall at the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE in Riga (Doma laukums 6) from 16 July until 4 September 2022.
Hunt Slonem is one of those artists who are able magically create an entire world with their oeuvre. Slonem’s world is bright and expressive. Just like the White Rabbit in the story of Lewis Carroll, who takes Alice down the rabbit hole into a parallel reality, the bunnies painted by Slonem bring viewers into his fragile internal world. Slonem invites the audience to learn about him through his artworks as well as his image, workshop and stories. Author does not shy away from media attention but offers tours of his studio and homes demonstrating their splendid interiors to the society, along with his wardrobe and collections of cylinder hats, harps, and porcelain. Slonem talks about his signature painting style and also passionately explains topics like numerology and horoscopes.
Hunt Slonem is totally free in selection of subjects and colours in his seemingly chaotic, but thoroughly thought-out compositions. His paintings are like his interiors, clothing style and sculptures, where colourfulness and ornament prevail. By painting birds or butterflies that can seemingly fly away at any moment and placing them in a rhythmic way exactly where they need to be, Hunt Slonem creates an ensemble and turns the picture into a piece of music that he shares with the audience.
Text by Alexey Naumov, painter, Professor of the Art Academy of Latvia
About the artist
Hunt Slonem (1951) is the internationally recognized American painter, sculptor and printmaker. His work has been exhibited in more than 350 galleries and museums worldwide, and is represented in over 100 museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. Hunt Slonem lives in New York City and Louisiana, where he has notably restored two historically important estates to their original states.