{"id":88835,"date":"2024-12-04T10:22:13","date_gmt":"2024-12-04T17:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/?p=88835"},"modified":"2024-12-05T10:47:15","modified_gmt":"2024-12-05T17:47:15","slug":"capturing-spirit-and-symbol-modern-animal-portraiture-in-photography-and-paint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/capturing-spirit-and-symbol-modern-animal-portraiture-in-photography-and-paint\/","title":{"rendered":"Capturing Spirit and Symbol: Modern Animal Portraiture in Photography and Paint"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<div id=\"attachment_88836\" style=\"width: 860px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-88836\" class=\"wpa-warning wpa-image-missing-alt wp-image-88836\" src=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/owl-1024x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"A detailed black-and-white image of an owl perched on a branch, with strikingly dark eyes and intricate feather patterns.\" width=\"850\" height=\"850\" data-warning=\"Missing alt text\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/owl-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/owl-350x350.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/owl-290x290.jpeg 290w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/owl-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/owl-120x120.jpeg 120w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/owl-360x360.jpeg 360w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/owl.jpeg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-88836\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nine Fran\u00e7ois, &#8220;Owl&#8221;<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4>As far as we know, animals were humanity\u2019s first muses. From Paleolithic cave paintings to medieval manuscripts, they have served as symbols, metaphors and companions, shaping how we see the world and ourselves. Today, as our relationship with the natural world becomes increasingly fraught, artists like Nine Fran\u00e7ois and Kenneth Peloke are returning to these ancient subjects with a modern lens, reimagining animal portraiture in ways that celebrate the tension between archetype and individuality. Their work, on display in Park City galleries, invites us to question not only how we view animals but also how art mediates these views.<\/h4>\n<h4>Nine Fran\u00e7ois\u2019 <em>Animalia<\/em> series, represented by <a href=\"http:\/\/julienestergallery.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Julie Nester Gallery<\/a>, transforms animals into striking visual icons while emphasizing their unique personalities. Her photographs depict creatures such as vultures, fawns and alligators against stark, minimalist backgrounds that isolate her subjects, highlighting their elegance and presence. Animals are often seen as symbols of strength, fragility, or mystery, but Fran\u00e7ois\u2019 focus on intimate details\u2014like a donkey\u2019s curious expression or the calm gaze of an owl\u2014humanizes them, illuminating what John Berger called the \u201csecrets of the animal\u2019s likeness with \u2026 man.\u201d As Fran\u00e7ois explains, \u201cthe animal goes beyond being a removed, iconic presence and becomes a palpable unique spirit.\u201d<\/h4>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-88835 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/capturing-spirit-and-symbol-modern-animal-portraiture-in-photography-and-paint\/fawn\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"290\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fawn-290x290.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A delicate black-and-white photograph of a young fawn standing, slightly bowing its head, with its spotted coat prominently displayed.\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-88837\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fawn-290x290.jpeg 290w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fawn-350x350.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fawn-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fawn-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fawn-120x120.jpeg 120w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fawn-360x360.jpeg 360w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/fawn.jpeg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-88837'>\n\t\t\t\tNine Fran\u00e7ois, &#8220;Fawn I&#8221;\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/capturing-spirit-and-symbol-modern-animal-portraiture-in-photography-and-paint\/turkey-vulturte\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"290\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/turkey-vulturte-290x290.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A dramatic black-and-white image of a turkey vulture with wings spread wide, its pose commanding attention against a white backdrop.\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-88839\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/turkey-vulturte-290x290.jpeg 290w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/turkey-vulturte-350x350.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/turkey-vulturte-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/turkey-vulturte-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/turkey-vulturte-120x120.jpeg 120w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/turkey-vulturte-360x360.jpeg 360w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/turkey-vulturte.jpeg 1140w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-88839'>\n\t\t\t\tNine Fran\u00e7ois, &#8220;Turkey Vulture I&#8221;\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/capturing-spirit-and-symbol-modern-animal-portraiture-in-photography-and-paint\/donkey\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"290\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/donkey-290x290.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A whimsical black-and-white close-up of a donkey staring directly at the camera with its large, expressive ears upright.\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-88838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/donkey-290x290.jpeg 290w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/donkey-120x120.jpeg 120w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/donkey-360x360.jpeg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 290px) 100vw, 290px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-88838'>\n\t\t\t\tNine Fran\u00e7ois, &#8220;Donkey II&#8221;\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<h4>Fran\u00e7ois belongs to a lineage of contemporary photographers who use studio-like settings to highlight animals. Joel Sartore\u2019s <em>Photo Ark<\/em> project, for instance, uses plain backdrops to emphasize the individuality of endangered species, urging viewers to consider conservation. Andrew Zuckerman\u2019s <em>Creature<\/em> series isolates animals with high-contrast lighting to showcase their intricate details, while Brad Wilson focuses on the quiet dignity of wild animals in controlled environments. Fran\u00e7ois distinguishes herself by balancing awe with intimacy\u2014her subjects feel monumental yet approachable, iconic yet deeply personal.<\/h4>\n<h4>Kenneth Peloke, whose exhibition <em>This is the West<\/em> opens this Friday at Gallery MAR, approaches animals from a different angle. His Western-themed paintings of horses and bison, set against stark white or black backgrounds, evoke not familiarity but distance. There\u2019s an air of majesty more than anthropomorphized personality, what Berger, in the same sentence quoted above, from his 1980 essay \u201cWhy Look at Animals?\u201d, called the unlikeness from man.<\/h4>\n<h4>Peloke\u2019s animals are also paintings, a fact not immediately apparent in reproductions, where their meticulous detail might be mistaken for photography. (Not so his abstracts works, also on display where he transforms the same subjects into bold geometric shapes and layered textures.) Peloke\u2019s paintings begin in photographs, not always his own, but something happens in this transformation in paint.<\/h4>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<div id=\"attachment_88843\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-88843\" class=\"wpa-warning wpa-image-missing-alt wp-image-88843 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.39-AM-1200x936.png\" alt=\"A serene black-and-white profile of a white horse with its mane flowing in the wind, set against a muted background.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"936\" data-warning=\"Missing alt text\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.39-AM-1200x936.png 1200w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.39-AM-350x273.png 350w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.39-AM-768x599.png 768w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.39-AM.png 1426w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-88843\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Kenneth Peloke, &#8220;Autumn Breeze,&#8221; oil, 48&#215;60 in.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4>As Roland Barthes observed, photography has an inherent \u201cthat-has-been\u201d quality\u2014it captures a direct, indexical trace of reality. Painting, by contrast, is an interpretation, shaped by the artist\u2019s hand and Peloke\u2019s ability to render such detail, generally on a large scale, will appeal to those who are captivated by a certain idea of talent and the mastery of a medium (though we should not ignore the skill and precision required for Fran\u00e7ois\u2019 photography, which depends on split-second timing, close collaboration with experts, and an eye for detail). Wittingly or not, Peloke\u2019s brushstrokes, textures, and layers encourage viewers to focus not only on the animals but also on the process of their creation. But does this focus on the artist\u2019s hand risk eclipsing the subject itself? Do we lose the animal in favor of the art?<\/h4>\n<h4 class=\"p1\">Peloke\u2019s paintings may feel timeless and symbolic, but Fran\u00e7ois\u2019 photographs carry an immediacy and connection to the living, breathing animal. But Fran\u00e7ois\u2019 photographs present their own paradox. By isolating animals against neutral backgrounds, Fran\u00e7ois asks us to see them as individuals with personalities and emotions, fostering empathy. She does so by selecting, one assumes, from hundreds of images, those few that will most appeal to our sense of the human. And the isolation of her white backgrounds removes the animals from their ecological and social contexts, reducing them to aesthetic objects. Her photographs remind us of the beauty and fragility of the natural world, but they also reflect the human tendency to control and curate our relationship with it.<\/h4>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-88835 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-medium'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/capturing-spirit-and-symbol-modern-animal-portraiture-in-photography-and-paint\/screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10-39-09-am\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"524\" src=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.39.09-AM-350x524.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"A striking black-and-white portrait of a bison standing in a grassy field, capturing its rugged texture and calm expression.\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-88841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.39.09-AM-350x524.png 350w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.39.09-AM-684x1024.png 684w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.39.09-AM-768x1150.png 768w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.39.09-AM.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-88841'>\n\t\t\t\tKenneth Peloke, &#8220;The Protector,&#8221; oil, 72&#215;48 in.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/capturing-spirit-and-symbol-modern-animal-portraiture-in-photography-and-paint\/screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10-38-55-am\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.55-AM-350x520.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"A dynamic black-and-white image of a white horse with a flowing mane, its head tilted to the side in motion.\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-88842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.55-AM-350x520.png 350w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.55-AM-689x1024.png 689w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.55-AM-768x1142.png 768w, https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.55-AM.png 806w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-88842'>\n\t\t\t\tKenneth Peloke, &#8220;Feeling Good,&#8221; oil, 48&#215;60 in.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<h4>As Berger observed in <em>Why Look at Animals?<\/em>: \u201cAnimals are always the observed \u2026 They are the objects of our ever-extending knowledge. What we know about them is an index of our power, and thus an index of what separates us from them. The more we know, the further away they are.\u201d<\/h4>\n<h4>Together, Fran\u00e7ois and Peloke exemplify how animal portraiture can transcend representation, offering viewers new ways to engage with the natural world. Whether through Fran\u00e7ois\u2019 lens or Peloke\u2019s brush, their works remind us of the power, mystery, and individuality of the creatures we share the planet with. But they also challenge us to confront the complexity of this relationship, asking whether our fascination draws us closer to these animals\u2014or pushes them further away.<\/h4>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p><em>Kenneth Peloke: This is the West<\/em>, <a href=\"http:\/\/gallerymar.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gallery MAR<\/a>, Park City, through December. Artist reception, Friday, Dec. 6, 6-9 pm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As far as we know, animals were humanity\u2019s first muses. From Paleolithic cave paintings to medieval manuscripts, they have served as symbols, metaphors and companions, shaping how we see the world and ourselves. Today, as our relationship with the natural world becomes increasingly fraught, artists like Nine Fran\u00e7ois [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":88843,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_piecal_is_event":false,"_piecal_start_date":"","_piecal_end_date":"","_piecal_is_allday":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88835","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exhibition_reviews","category-visual_arts"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Screenshot-2024-12-05-at-10.38.39-AM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-17 21:03:31","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88835"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88844,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88835\/revisions\/88844"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/artistsofutah.org\/15Bytes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}