Bronni Krieger — Unspoken

Overview

For those who prefer their cat photos from the trippier side of town, Bronni Krieger's Unspoken is going to need your full attention. In these detailed paintings on display at fortyfivedownstairs during July, animals abound — but it's not the usual dog in socks or hedgehog in a shower cap fodder the Internet usually lobs at us.

Krieger's paintings are photorealistic, but work to transport the viewer into a dream space. From a lamb munching on grass growing out of an old armchair, to a faun entranced by a toy buck in a terrarium, Krieger's subjects are undisturbed by any human presence. They emerge from a grey haze, interacting with man-made objects and environments with bewilderment and innocence.

Unspoken not only looks beautiful, but also carries a sense of mystery and sadness. How many gifs of cats escaping bike helmets can make a similar claim?