Bushwick Gallery Roars with Wild Kingdoms: Animals Reimagined
By Rachel Morgan, November 2024
Bushwick Gallery lets the animal kingdom take center stage in its latest group exhibition, Wild Kingdoms: Animals Reimagined. Opening November 7, this international showcase invites visitors to experience wildlife through fresh eyes, merging reality, fantasy, and social commentary in a vibrant tribute to the creatures that inhabit our world. Running until November 18, the exhibition brings together a diverse mix of artists, each offering unique interpretations that blend abstraction, symbolism, and whimsical reflections on the natural world.
Leading the exhibition, Gina Keatley’s series In Cotton Candy Madagascar captures the spirit of wildlife with bold color contrasts and abstract textures. Her works, including Ephemeral Traces, Kawa Yūsei, and the intricate mobile Heavy Lifting, transport viewers into dreamlike realms where elephants, snow monkeys, and delicate feathers evoke imagination and memory. Keatley’s pieces embrace whimsy and reverence, celebrating the adaptability and beauty found within the animal kingdom.
A Curated Global Perspective
Curator Shir Sudri, whose experience spans Pratt Institute and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has drawn on her rich background to shape Wild Kingdoms into a visually stunning and thought-provoking exhibit. Her vision, infused with modern and post-modern art influences, emphasizes cultural connections through art, making the exhibition both immersive and introspective.
Sherihan Khalil presents her Petri (Dish) Dino series, a reimagining of dinosaurs within Petri dishes, blending childhood wonder with scientific curiosity. Inspired by her experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq, Khalil’s work speaks to themes of resilience and preservation in life’s delicate ecosystems.
David Buetsche’s The Bison’s Gaze pays homage to the American West, capturing the raw intensity of a bison’s expression. Using layered textures of acrylic and spray paint, Buetsche’s piece invites viewers to confront the strength and mystique of one of North America’s iconic animals.
British-American photographer Michael Turek contributes Elephant Ear and Edgeland, Serengeti, two poignant images that capture Africa’s wildlife against mist-laden backdrops. His work reveals the haunting beauty of nature, transporting viewers to Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park and the fog-covered plains of the Serengeti.
Jonosuke Tanaka’s Human, inspired by Japanese cinema, captures the ephemeral essence of human emotions through fluid, melting forms. His piece brings a unique perspective to the exhibition’s theme, reminding viewers of the connection between humanity and animalistic instincts.
Duncan Richards adds a spiritual dimension with Lighthouse, an assemblage sculpture featuring a horseshoe crab shell, glass, and a vintage Edison bulb. The work serves as an homage to ancestral guidance, inviting viewers to connect with their own lineage and the natural world’s enduring mysteries.
Roman Cochet’s Courgette offers a contemplative take on animals through a quiet portrait of his pet cat. In muted tones and organic forms, Cochet’s work explores themes of presence and absence, fitting seamlessly with his broader artistic exploration of the human impact on nature.
Yuseph David Zapata Lamir’s Palometa with a Pearl Earring and Notorious B.I.R.D. feature his beloved character Palometa the Pigeon, reimagined as iconic figures from art history. With bold colors and street art techniques, Zapata’s work bridges urban grit and gallery refinement, symbolizing the resilience of city wildlife.
Brooklyn-based Venezuelan artist Hernandez Mago adds a poetic touch with A Crowd of Naive Thoughts 3, exploring memory, perception, and nostalgia. Inspired by his Venezuelan roots and Brooklyn’s landscapes, his work blurs memory and reality, inviting viewers to reflect on the fleeting present.
Daniel Lawson, a longtime musician turned visual artist, brings a rhythmic vibrancy to the canvas. Known for his playful yet surreal style, Daniel describes his work as “Looney Tunes Noir,” merging influences from early animation and his deep connection to music.
Featured at Bushwick Gallery, B-Rex showcases his dynamic approach, blending dreamlike landscapes with quirky characters inspired by meditation and subconscious imagery. Bold, colorful, and a little mysterious, this digital piece invites viewers to step into a whimsical world where humor meets surrealism.
A Tapestry of Imagination and Reflection
Each artist brings a unique cultural lens to the exhibition, transforming animals into symbols of memory, resilience, and play. This curated collection offers a rich tapestry of ideas, inviting viewers to consider the roles animals play in our lives and the delicate connections we share.
Bushwick Gallery’s white-box space enhances the experience, allowing for an intimate, focused engagement with each piece. Known for fostering innovation within the New York art scene, the gallery continues to make waves as a center for both emerging and established talent in the heart of Bushwick’s thriving art district.
Wild Kingdoms: Animals Reimagined opens Thursday, November 7, with a reception from 6 PM to 8 PM, promising visitors a fresh look at the beauty and complexity of the animal kingdom. The exhibit runs until November 18; reach out to schedule a private tour.
Meet the Artists of Wild Kingdoms: Animals Reimagined
Explore the unique perspectives of the artists featured in this exhibition. Each artist brings their own interpretation of animals to life through their medium of choice. Click on the links to view their full profiles and learn more about their work:
Gina Keatley
(Abstract Expressionist)
Known for her vibrant yet sophisticated work, Gina Keatley’s In Cotton Candy Madagascar series explores themes of coexistence and adaptability within the natural world. Her pieces in this exhibition, such as Ephemeral Traces and Kawa Yūsei, merge whimsical elements with bold color contrasts.
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Sherihan Khalil
(Abstract Artist)
Sherihan Khalil reimagines ancient creatures in her Petri (Dish) Dino series, blending childhood curiosity with themes of resilience and preservation. Her dynamic, gestural line work speaks to the beauty of life’s fragile ecosystems.
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David Buetsche
(Mixed-Media Artist)
Buetsche captures the intensity of North America’s iconic bison in The Bison’s Gaze. His expressive, layered approach invites viewers to connect with the raw power and beauty of the natural world.
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Michael Turek
(Photographer)
Turek’s works Elephant Ear and Edgeland, Serengeti depict the tranquil yet haunting beauty of African wildlife. Through his lens, animals emerge in mist-shrouded landscapes, capturing the transient beauty of nature.
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Jonosuke Tanaka
(Interdisciplinary Artist)
Inspired by Asian cinema, Jonosuke Tanaka’s Human captures the fluidity of identity through melting, abstract strokes. His piece brings a unique, introspective angle to the animal kingdom, reflecting on human and animalistic instincts.
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Duncan Richards
(Interdisciplinary Artist)
Richards’ Lighthouse combines organic and vintage materials, symbolizing ancestral connection. This spiritual piece serves as a bridge between past and present, honoring the enduring ties between humans and nature.
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Daniel Lawson
(Digital Artist)
Lawson’s works B-Rex and Sympathy For Pinky bring animated, surreal qualities to life. Influenced by classic cartoons, his digital pieces explore imagination and whimsy within the animal kingdom.
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Roman Cochet
(Painter)
Cochet’s Courgette offers a quiet, reflective look at the animal world through the lens of his pet cat. His muted tones and organic forms evoke a sense of presence and absence in nature.
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Yuseph David Zapata Lamir
(Graphic Designer and Street Artist)
Zapata’s playful Palometa with a Pearl Earring and Notorious B.I.R.D. pieces combine street art with cultural icons, symbolizing urban wildlife’s resilience and adaptability in unexpected spaces.
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Hernandez Mago
(Filmmaker and Photographer)
Mago’s A Crowd of Naive Thoughts 3 captures the delicate interplay between memory and reality. Inspired by his Venezuelan roots and life in Brooklyn, his work reflects a nostalgic longing for the present moment, blending magical realism with introspective depth.
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