BRONSON SHONK
Traver Gallery proudly presents Inflorescence, the premier solo exhibition by Seattle-based painter and sculptor Bronson Shonk. With this exhibition, Shonk debuts a series of more than 15 unique dimensional paintings. Each sculpture is a unique study of growth and change, as Shonk smartly uses layers of glass and paint to capture a sense of change and movement suspended in time.
Shonk’s meticulously painted laminated glass sculptures portray delicate blossoms and vibrant bursts that seem to unfold in space. As a data scientist and visual artist, Shonk is captivated by how humans interpret change over time. He muses, “While our visual systems are confined to capturing singular moments, our conceptual faculties enable us to comprehend change across time, projecting both forward and backward...Within the exhibition, compressed time materializes through the illusion of motion. Floral forms expand and contract in a linear sequence; petals and leaves transparently overlap as if caught mid-movement, a lively vibrato of color. These movements form patterns, just as flowering branches form patterns of inflorescence”.
Drawing diverse artistic inspiration from the Japanese landscapes of Hokusai, French Impressionism, and Italian Futurism, Shonk’s abstract floral representations reach far beyond the simple aesthetic allure of flowers. They elicit feelings of nostalgia and wonder while compelling us to reflect on how we see and understand the world around us.
We are thrilled to share this exceptional new work with you, our friends, and collectors.
–Sarah Traver and William Traver
VIRIDIAN PASSAGE, 2024, 21 x 10 x 4.6 inches; detail opposite
GOSSAMER ROSE, 2024, 21 x 10 x 4.6 inches
BENDING
BRANCHES, 2024, 14 x 7 x 3.5 inches
FIELDS OF AMARANTH, 2024, 21 x 10 x 4.6 inches
HUMMINGBIRD, 2024, 60 x 48 inches
LAVENDER FLORETS, 2024, 21 x 10 x 4.6 inches; detail opposite
Bronson Shonk, born in Atlanta, Georgia, studied Environmental Science and Studio Art at the University of Vermont. After graduation, he moved to Seattle and worked in Data Visualization for four years before studying with artist Michael Schultheis in 2017. Since then, he has been a full-time artist, exhibiting his paintings and sculptures in galleries throughout the United States. His artwork is included in numerous private collections and has been featured in Luxe and White Hot magazines.