Hunt Slonem

Hunt Slonem is an American artist who is best known for his Neo-Expressionist paintings of butterflies, bunnies, and his tropical birds. He was born in Kittery, Maine, in 1951, and he studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture and Tulane University. In 1975, he moved to New York City, where he quickly became involved in the city's avant-garde art scene.

Slonem's early work was influenced by Abstract Expressionism, but he soon began to experiment with new forms of art. In 1980, he began creating his signature paintings of animals, which he rendered in thick, gestural brushstrokes and arranged in a loose grid. Slonem's paintings are often brightly colored and whimsical, and they have been praised for their beauty and energy.

Slonem is also a prolific printmaker, and he has created a number of important series of prints, including the "Butterfly" series (1980-1990) and the "Bunny" series (1985-1995). He has also worked in other media, including sculpture and installation art. Slonem is a major figure in the American art world, and his work has been exhibited in major museums and galleries around the world. He has received numerous awards, including the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1987 and the MacArthur Fellowship in 1999.

Early Life

Hunt Slonem was born on July 18, 1951, in Kittery, Maine. He was the son of a naval officer and a homemaker. Slonem's family moved frequently during his childhood, and he lived in a number of different states, including Hawaii, Virginia, Connecticut, California, and Washington.

Slonem's early interest in art was encouraged by his mother, who was an amateur artist. He would often draw and paint, and he would also take apart and rebuild radios and other machines.

In 1969, Slonem graduated from high school and enrolled at the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture in Maine. Skowhegan is a prestigious art school that is known for its rigorous academic program and its focus on traditional painting techniques.

After graduating from Skowhegan in 1971, Slonem moved to New York City to attend Tulane University. Tulane is a private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana. Slonem studied painting at Tulane for two years, but he left the university in 1973 to pursue a career as a full-time artist.

Early Career

In 1975, Slonem moved to New York City, where he quickly became involved in the city's avant-garde art scene. He exhibited his work in galleries and museums, and he met and befriended a number of other artists, including Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and Jasper Johns.

In 1980, Slonem began creating his signature paintings of animals. Slonem's paintings are often brightly colored and whimsical, and they have been praised for their beauty and energy. Slonem's paintings of animals have been inspired by a number of different sources, including his childhood memories of tropical birds, his love of animals, and his interest in the natural world. Slonem's paintings are also a reflection of his own personal journey, and they explore themes of love, loss, and spirituality.

Later Career

Slonem has continued to be a major figure in the American art world throughout his career. He has exhibited his work in major exhibitions around the world, and he has received numerous awards, including the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1987 and the MacArthur Fellowship in 1999.

Slonem is also a prolific printmaker, and he has created a number of important series of prints, including the "Butterfly" series (1980-1990) and the "Bunny" series (1985-1995). He has also worked in other media, including sculpture and installation art.

Slonem is a true innovator, and his work continues to inspire and challenge artists today. He is a master of color and composition, and his paintings are a celebration of the beauty of the natural world.