Bruno Pontiroli’s Absurd Portraits Highlight Quirky Behavior and Zoological Buffoonery
“Les enjambées sauvages II” (2024), 100 x 81 centimeters. All images courtesy of the artist and Corey Helford Gallery, shared with permission
Bruno Pontiroli’s Absurd Portraits Highlight Quirky Behavior and Zoological Buffoonery
October 28, 2024
Art
Kate Mothes
Share
Pin
Bookmark
You’ve probably heard expressions like “going around in circles” or “running like a rabbit,” but chances are you haven’t pictured them quite like Bruno Pontiroli’s scenes of zoological mayhem.
In oil paintings that nod to 19th-century wildlife illustrations, Lyon-based artist (previously) evokes common phrases like “la vie en rose,” akin to the English saying: “to see life through rose-colored glasses.” And in “Le conflit intérieur,” or “interior conflict,” a tiger and a grizzly bear duke it out despite being joined together.
“Le conflit intérieur” (2024), 100 x 81 centimeters
Histoires Naturelles & Grotesques, Pontiroli’s solo show opening soon at Corey Helford Gallery, highlights the artist’s continued fascination with defying natural order. His compositions fuse animals into single beings, add absurdly long legs, or extend numerous extra appendages from a single creature to illustrate the often farcical quirks of human behavior.
Histoires Naturelles & Grotesques runs from November 2 to December 7 in Los Angeles. Find more on the artist’s website and Instagram.
“Copains comme cochons” (2024), 50 x 60 centimeters
“La vie en rose” (2024), 61 x 46 centimeters
“Portrait d’un tocard” (2024), 60 x 81 centimeters
“Tourner en rond” (2024), 50 x 40 centimeters
“Courir comme un lapin” (2024), 30 x 40 centimeters
“Le pli de génie II” (2024), 97 x 78 centimeters
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member now, and support independent arts publishing.
Hide advertising
Save your favorite articles
Get 15% off in the Colossal Shop
Receive members-only newsletter
Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms
Join us today!
$7/month
$75/year
Explore membership options
Previous articleNext article More
