By Hunt Slonem
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Hunt Slonem
Title: Aurelia
Medium: Bronze Sculpture (24K Gold Plated)
Size: 15.25" x 7" x 8"
Year: 2024
Edition: 6 Numbered + 2 AP + 2 TP
Signature: Signed by the artist and etched with edition number
Documentation: Includes a certificate of authenticity from Hunt Studios
"Aurelia" (2024) by Hunt Slonem presents a sculptural continuation of the artist's enduring engagement with the rabbit motif, translated into polished bronze. Measuring 15.25 inches in height, 7 inches in width, and 8 inches in depth, the work transforms one of Slonem's most recognizable subjects into a compact three-dimensional object that emphasizes contour, surface, and reflected light. While rooted in the iconography that has defined much of his painted oeuvre, "Aurelia" demonstrates the artist's continued expansion into sculpture, where familiar imagery is reinterpreted through material permanence and spatial presence.
Throughout Slonem's career, rabbits have appeared as recurring emblems within his visual language, often associated with vitality, spirituality, and cycles of renewal. In "Aurelia", the motif is rendered with softened, volumetric modeling that retains a sense of immediacy and movement. The lively silhouette and subtly animated surface evoke the brisk, gestural energy characteristic of the artist's brushwork on canvas, suggesting a natural translation of painterly sensibilities into cast metal. This interplay between fluid gesture and solid form creates a productive tension between spontaneity and durability.
The sculpture's polished bronze surface heightens its visual presence through the interaction of light across its contours, emphasizing both form and texture. Highlights and shadows move across the work as viewing conditions change, animating the object and reinforcing its tactile qualities. The title "Aurelia", derived from Latin associations with radiance and golden light, suggests themes of luminosity and transformation while complementing the warm tonal qualities of the bronze itself.
Issued in a limited edition of six, with two artist's proofs and two trial proofs, "Aurelia" occupies a select position within Slonem's sculptural production. Each example is signed by the artist and etched with its edition number, and the work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Hunt Studios. As both an extension of Slonem's established iconography and an exploration of new material possibilities, "Aurelia" exemplifies the artist's ability to adapt recurring imagery across mediums while preserving its symbolic and formal vitality.
About Hunt Slonem
Hunt Slonem is a leading American contemporary artist whose paintings, sculptures, and decorative environments have made him a distinctive presence in the international art world. Born in 1951 in Kittery, Maine, he spent his early years moving frequently with his family, including time in Nicaragua and Hawaii. Exposure to lush landscapes, tropical birds, and diverse cultural settings deeply influenced the imagery that would later define his artistic career. He earned a degree in painting and art history from Tulane University in 1973 and soon relocated to New York, where he developed his professional practice.
Best known for his richly colored and highly recognizable paintings, Hunt Slonem has built a career around recurring motifs such as rabbits, butterflies, parrots, and other animals. These subjects are rendered through expressive brushwork, layered paint surfaces, and rhythmic repetition, blending elements of Neo-Expressionism, Pop sensibility, and decorative tradition. His rabbit paintings, in particular, have become some of the most sought-after works in the contemporary market and remain strongly associated with the artist's name.
Beyond canvas, Slonem has expanded his practice into printmaking, sculpture, and handblown glass. Hunt Slonem glass...
Category
2010s Minnesota - Art