hunt slonem

one of the Most Recognizable Contemporary American Painters

Internationally acclaimed painter Hunt Slonem is one of the most recognizable figures in contemporary neo-expressionism. Inspired by the natural world and the vibrant energy of his studio aviary of exotic birds, Slonem has developed a signature visual language built around his iconic motifs of bunnies, butterflies and tropical birds. His expressive brushwork, luminous color palettes and rhythmic repetition have made his work instantly identifiable and widely collected around the world.

Slonem’s paintings are held in the permanent collections of more than 250 museums internationally, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the Fundació Joan Miró. Since his first solo exhibition at Fischbach Gallery in 1977, his work has been exhibited extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Over the past decade, Slonem’s market presence has continued to expand dramatically, with major museum exhibitions, international gallery presentations and strong collector demand for his instantly recognizable “bunny” series. His works are widely sought after by private collectors, interior designers and major institutions, and his paintings frequently anchor prominent contemporary collections throughout North America.

In addition to painting, Slonem is known for his ambitious architectural preservation projects. A passionate collector of historic properties, he has restored a number of significant American landmarks including Cordt’s Mansion in Kingston, New York, the Lakeside and Albania plantations in Louisiana, the Scranton Armory in Pennsylvania, and other historic estates. These restoration projects reflect the same sense of history, ornament and romanticism that define his artwork.

Born in Maine and educated at Tulane University, where he studied painting and art history, Slonem moved to New York in the 1970s and quickly became part of the city’s dynamic contemporary art scene. Early support from artists such as Janet Fish helped launch his career, leading to major exhibitions and representation by prominent galleries including Marlborough Gallery for nearly two decades.

Today, Slonem lives and works in New York and continues to produce new paintings daily, maintaining a prolific studio practice that has resulted in one of the most distinctive and celebrated bodies of work in contemporary American painting.

Collectors visiting Drew Marc Gallery experience one of the most significant presentations of Slonem’s work in the region, offering access to a curated selection of original paintings as well as opportunities to acquire rare works directly through the artist’s studio.