Inspired by the theme of friendship, this painting uses rapid brushstrokes and the theatricality of set and setting to illustrate a moment of celebration between two friends. Here, still life and portrait are combined by exploring the concept of the table, a still life mechanism with endless possibilities. For this painting, a dead fish is shared between the jovial subjects, creating a sense of the curious uncanny.

This painting is part of a series which explores ideas of relationships and rituals. The juxtaposition of the joyful expressions against the curious still life and daunting sky creates a dynamic contrast between trust and duplicity. These visual cues are meant to explore the complexities of human connection.

“I want my paintings to feel like monuments to passing moments, blending real experiences and the emotions felt throughout them with a visual expression of how they might be recalled in our memory.”

Alexander Shanks received classical training under his father, renowned painter Nelson Shanks, and recently earned his MFA from the New York Academy of Art. As an artist with equal attraction to classical and contemporary art, Alexander looks to combine his love of draftsmanship with modern compositions, colors, and narratives.