Groundworks-Hunt-Slonem
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Art Meets Design DVF at Dining by Design P.36 Hunt Slonem FABRIC, WALLPAPER & CARPET

Hunt Slonem is an American painter, sculptor, and printmaker best known for his Neo-Expressionist paintings of tropical birds and exotic butterflies, painted in a style he describes as “exotica.” Slonem has traveled all over the world, but it was a childhood spent in Hawaii and a year studying in Nicaragua that has had the most profound impact on his life’s work, exposing him to new plant and animal species as well as a heightened awareness of cultural norms and spirituality. Though he has not been back to Nicaragua since his visit as a teenager, his memories are as vivid as if he’d just...

BAYOU CASINO

Slonem’s birds are the witnesses of his life. His home and his studio house hundreds of birds, both in and out of cages. The variety of species at any given time includes macaws, troupials, tanagers, hornbills, hummingbirds, toucans, barbacks, parrots and more. Bayou Casino is styled after Slonem’s signature parrot series, which he paints using dozens of live parrots as models in his studio. The fabric, which is digitally printed on 100 percent linen, was named in honor of Slonem’s plantations on the bayous of Louisiana. Albania Plantation is located on the Bayou Teche in St. Mary Parish,...

As a child in Hawaii, Slonem collected orchids, and his passion and respect for the flower continues to this day, including this fragrant, tropical variety. For Slonem, the orchid is a constant source of inspiration and pure spirit. The fabric, Catelayas 2, is digitally printed on 100 percent linen to capture the nuances and explosive color of Slonem’s orchids, which are presented against a subtle backdrop of Guardian monkeys.

8 Star of India, Multi GWF-3400.437

Star of India describes a type of tortoise that was a former pet of the artist. The name also describes a famous sapphire that is one of the largest in the world. The Maharani, or Princess, of Cooch Behar, in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas, carried around a jeweled tortoise for luck. The fabric application of Star of India is digitally printed on linen with a combination of viscose velvet applique and viscose embroidered shells.

Slonem’s paintings express a strong affinity for nature, combined with the meditative repetition of objects and forms. Monsterra is one of Hunt’s most beloved leaf forms. Surrounded by Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterflies, this pattern has a dynamic and exotic motif. It is digitally printed on linen and the butterflies are applied with viscose embroidery, adding dimension and texture.

BUNNY WALL 12 Bunny Wall, Ivory GWP-3410.101

Slonem’s fascination with the rabbit began in the early 1980s when he discovered that he was born in the year of the rabbit, according to the Chinese zodiac calendar. They first appeared in his paintings of saints surrounded by animals. Over time the rabbit has become a singular motif, appearing on its own on small canvases, or grouped together on larger ones, all framed in authentic antique 19th century portrait frames which are hand selected by Slonem. A signature feature of Slonem’s New York City studio is the Bunny Wall, a large expanse of salon-style groupings of Slonem’s small bunny...

14 Plan – Neutral Plan – Taupe/Grey Plan – Grey All Eyes – Neutrals

The Guardians is a series of paintings that feature the eyes and mouths of monkeys, repeated in rows across the canvas using simple brushstrokes to create a recurring pattern. Slonem first began painting monkeys after observing the self-portraits of Frida Kahlo in which she’s frequently pictured with monkeys. In Mexican mythology, monkeys are symbols of lust, but Kahlo portrayed them as tender and protective symbols, a concept with which Slonem identifies, in addition to her primitive painting techniques, use of color and symbolism. In the fabric application, Guardians is a jacquard velvet...

When Art Meets Design by Hunt Slonem explores artist Hunt Slonem's fantastically decorated and meticulously restored homes. Vivid original photography reveals the intersection of antiques, artwork and fabrics—including the artist's eponymous exciting view into his unique world. Front Cover: Wallpaper: Hutch, Gold GWP-3413.40 GROUNDWORKS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT LEE JOFA Fabric: Catelayas 2, Purple/Berry GWF-3406.104 WWW.leejofa.com Back Cover: Catelayas 2, Purple/Berry GWF-3406.104