Description
‘Lord Chestnut’ by Cassandra Kim
Artist: Cassandra Kim
Title: ‘Lord Chestnut’
Medium: Acrylic and oil on gator board
Dimensions: 6.5″ x 4″
Framing: Framed in an antique frame (frame size: 8.5″ x 6″)
Year of Creation: 2023
Artwork Will Ship From: USA
About the Artwork:
“Recently, I had come across an article about the artist Pierre Paul Prud’hon who painted a portrait of David Johnson that resides at Washington DC’s National Gallery. To sum it up, it got a lot of attention for painting someone not notable in a notable way. I was entertained by this and connected with that concept. I love to paint over looked animals in prestigious ways. I wanted to honor Prun’hon by painting my version of his David Johnson portrait as a chipmunk. It’s painted in acrylic and oil and in an antique frame I restored.” – Cassandra Kim
About the Artist:
(Artist Statement)
Cassandra Kim is a contemporary artist whose paintings explore the unique personalities and characteristics of animals and reflect a lifelong love of traditional art. Inspired by the master painters of the past, she seeks to put her own slightly absurd surreal twist on art by replacing animals with people. Pairing an unexpected animal with an image from past societies creates a visual paradox that inadvertently humanizes the portraiture and often makes people smile. The use of humor is a valuable way to break down barriers between people and art. She works in the combination of acrylic and then oil on board, and restores reclaimed antique and vintage wood frames she finds for her work. Each piece is carefully crafted to capture the essence of the animal, and to highlight their individual traits and quirks. Her hope is that her work will inspire others to see animals in a new light, and to appreciate the beauty and diversity of the animal kingdom through her imagined society; while reminding the viewers of the deep connection they experience and all share.
Cassandra lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two children. She is a 2003 BFA Illustration graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is the 2013 recipient of the Klondike Gold Rush National Park and Chilkoot Historical Site artist residency. After working commercially as an artist for 14 years, Cassandra turned her focus to her personal art full-time in 2018. She has since exhibited in galleries across the United States and internationally.