Acquired for Private Collection
This painting is about the connection between our emotions and our animal instincts. Anger, fear, sadness, and hurt can all come out looking a lot like aggression, even when something completely different is happening underneath.
The man and the panther are both reacting in this big, intense way, but that reaction doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. Sometimes what looks like anger is fear. Sometimes what looks like strength is really sadness or vulnerability.
I wanted to pair those darker, heavier feelings with soft tropical plants and super bright neon colors. There’s something I really love about that contrast. Something can feel wild, loud, and powerful while still having softness underneath it.