Nathan Neven Open Bar

Humpback whales flying over the streets of New York City and a house packed with pink flamingos are the types of fantastical imagery one can find in the paintings by Irish artist Nathan Neven. Inspired by the isolation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, his recent work blends art styles and ecosystems to create lighthearted juxtapositions full of joy and teeming with life.

Neven knew at a young age that he wanted to become an artist. He spent much of his youth in Ireland, drawing and painting what he observed. Over time, and largely self-taught, he developed a mix of realist and abstract styles. He later moved to Paris in pursuit of improving his drawing and painting skills in a formal setting. He also spent time traveling in Europe, which greatly influenced his depictions of interiors and cityscapes, which feel alive with color and detail even without the wildlife settling in. 

Neven has had multiple solo shows in Japan as well as group shows in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland. Neven exhibited his work in France at the Galerie De La Vague à l’Art in La Baule in 2017 and the Galerie Cantele in Honfleur in 2018. The Montenotte Hotel in Cork, Ireland, invited Neven to be its 2022-23 Artist-in-Residence, which, associated with the Gallery Kinsale, resulted in Neven’s “Wild Life Invited” exhibition of animal portraits.

On 1stDibs, find a collection of Nathan Neven’s vibrant paintings.

Animal paintings depict the beauty and power of nature in an elegant way that can complement any room. Interacting with animals has long captured the imagination and has been interpreted in diverse artistic media.

Some of the oldest works of art have included animals, such as a cave painting found in Indonesia dating back more than 45,500 years that shows a wild pig in red ocher pigment. Animals have continued to appear in every era and style of art, from realism to Pop art and everything in between.

Some paintings portray animals in their natural habitat, highlighting the majesty of wild creatures roaming the plains, forests and jungles. These paintings often feature deer, tigers, wild mustangs and other wildlife. Others focus on domestic animals such as dogs — pay a visit to the Museum of the Dog if you don’t believe us — as well as cats and how they interact with the world and their owners.

Picking the right animal painting for a room — as well as knowing how to arrange your new wall art — can take time. But, in the end, it will tastefully reflect your interests and passions. While an expansive landscape painting helps open up a small space, hanging a horse painting in a den shows a love for equine culture and can invite interesting conversation.

There is animal art to fit every collection on 1stDibs. Explore a wide selection of animal paintings and animal prints in a range of styles and designs to match any home or office.