Now that Hunt Slonem: The Art of Delight has wrapped up at all three galleries, we wanted to spend a little time with one of Slonem’s favorite subjects. Along with his bunnies and presidential portraits, his aviary of painted birds is a constant and compelling presence in his work.
As his father’s Navy career required the family to move frequently, Hunt Slonem spent his childhood and formative years living all over the country. Notably, Slonem credits his early memories in Hawaii for his fascination with tropical birds. Still enamored with vibrant plumage and a reverence for nature, the painter’s studio now features over 60 pet birds, often in ornamental cages that appeal to Slonem’s maximalist sensibilities.
As one of his primary artistic focuses, the birds inspire and delight Hunt to create flocks of his own. Countless finches, cockatoos, parrots, owls, and lories nest inside his antique found frames, seemingly ready to take flight.
Thick, thoughtful brushstrokes evoke painterly feathers, while his distinctive hatch marks resemble the bars of a cage. These lines create both visual texture and conceptual tension. Rather than offering a voyeuristic view into a cage, they suggest the bird’s-eye perspective looking outward. The artist applies this technique across all of his subjects—butterflies, portraits, and landscapes alike—each marked by deep vertical lines.
View more work by Hunt Slonem
To learn more about the full collection of works we have available by Hunt Slonem, please reach out to the gallery nearest you.
