Painter Brad Kunkle (featured in HF Vol. 25) delves further into his exploration of spirituality and ritual with his latest solo show, “The Belonging,” opening at Arcadia Contemporary in New York on December 11. The artist combines oil paint with gold and silver leaf to create ethereal visions of women traversing windy fields. They seem to be on spiritual quests. We see them being lifted off the ground, their expressions knowing yet still enraptured, as glistening gusts of leaves and feathers sweep them away into the heavens.
While Kunkle’s past work has prioritized realism, some of the paintings in his new series feel purposely unfinished. He allows the translucency of his paint to show to create the sensation of his characters transcending physical space, becoming almost spirit-like. “The Belonging” includes a video installation of the same title in which a projection plays on one of Kunkle’s paintings accompanied by a music score co-composed by the artist. Take a look below for an exclusive premiere of video piece as well as Kunkle’s new paintings.
The work of Beijing-raised artist 
The hyperrealistic work of