“Guider” (2022), oil on canvas. All images © Richard Ahnert, courtesy of Modern Eden Gallery, shared with permission
Infused with wit and metaphor, the oil paintings of Toronto-based artist Richard Ahnert imagine the glum, peaceful, and rambunctious lives of animals. His new collection, on view through May 6 as part of Bear With Me at San Francisco’s Modern Eden Gallery, centers on the eponymous mammals, which are shown in the midst of relatable, deeply human activities. Rendered with soft, hazy edges in subtle colors, the anthropomorphized characters are caught in the rain, slouched over a bar, and enjoying a mid-day reprieve on the water. The narratives also tend to be veiled in nostalgia, shown through garments, the ubiquity of tobacco, and in the case of “Swear Bears,” a satirical twist on a 1980’s animation.
Ahnert’s body of work spans the animal kingdom, and he has a few limited-edition prints available. Explore more of his contemplative pieces on his site and Instagram. (via Supersonic Art)
“Shore Leave,” (2022), oil on canvas, 20 x 16 inches
“Swear Bears” (2022), oil on canvas, 30 x 24 inches
“Waiting Game” (2022), oil on canvas, 24 x 18 inches
“Patchwork” (2022), oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches
from Colossal https://ift.tt/CMO6dbm