Insight, Imagination, and the Art of Modern Allegory
Gardner Colby Gallery is delighted to present the newest works by Kevin Sloan, an artist celebrated for his captivating blend of allegory, realism, and contemporary symbolism. Sloan’s paintings illuminate the quiet poetry of the natural world, inviting viewers to pause, ponder, and rediscover the familiar with fresh eyes. His newest pieces—now available at the gallery—offer particularly poignant reflections on nature, humanity, and the delicate balances that bind them.
Kevin Sloan’s artwork has long explored the interplay between myth and modernity. Each painting functions as a visual parable—layered with metaphor, rich in detail, and grounded in a deep understanding of flora, fauna, and the passage of time. His work often feels like a moment suspended.
In his latest works, Sloan continues this tradition while offering a renewed sense of curiosity and compassion. These pieces carry subtle environmental narratives, touching on themes of preservation, fragility, and coexistence. Yet they do so gently, inviting contemplation rather than confrontation.
For collectors, these works offer both aesthetic beauty and thoughtful narrative depth—qualities that make Sloan's art enduringly meaningful.
Read below to discover descriptions and insights into each artwork currently available at Gardner Colby Gallery.
“The Timid Beast”
Acrylic on canvas
60" x 54"
“A young elephant finds safety on the back of a patient turtle. Though the marshy landscape is shallow and harmless, it still feels unsettling to the large animal. The turtle looks upward as the two pose calmly together, waiting for the waters to recede.”
“La Playa”
Acrylic on canvas
36" x 30"
“This elegant tableau features a snowy egret posing regally among a collection of shells on a tropical beach. A blue-and-white ceramic plate painted with an octopus adds another layer of imagery. Above, blooming passion flowers frame the scene. This work represents a new kind of still life, populated by inanimate objects like shells, a ceramic depiction of a living octopus (perhaps swimming in the distant ocean), and a very real—yet perfectly still—egret, all set before a majestic billowing cloud.”
“Safe Harbor”
Acrylic on canvas
36" x 30"
“An ibis willingly becomes a safe resting place for several butterflies perched on its legs. While the gathering of different butterfly species on an ibis is implausible in reality, it feels entirely natural within the painting’s poetic logic. The small spit of sand and moss-covered rock form a temporary island of refuge for both the ibis and its delicate visitors.”
“East Facing Wren and Arrangement” and
“West Facing Warbler and Arrangement”
Acrylic on canvas
Each 48" x 42"
“These vibrant, extravagant arrangements can be viewed as a diptych or as individual works. Both celebrate abundance, color, and whimsy. At first glance, they appear to be extravagant but logical bouquets. Look closer, however, and they reveal themselves as fantasies—flowers are improbably scaled, and tropical blooms sit beside prairie wildflowers. One painting features a warbler on a vase facing left (west); the other features a wren facing right (east).”
“Dawn Arrives at Dolphin Key”
Acrylic on canvas
40" x 60"
“A smiling dolphin leaps across a collection of shells in this metaphorical scene. Glowing, billowing clouds signal the arrival of dawn, while the dolphin’s leap symbolizes the sun rising from the water into the sky. With dawn comes the return of color and life, represented by flower blossoms that follow the dolphin as it enters the new day.”