Welcome to my art blog



A self-taught artist, I have always been drawn towards the macabre. Born a twin on Christmas Eve 1964 in Montreal, my twin died several months after birth. This became a large influence in my creative process; isolation, detachment, duality, haunted visions coming from this astral being that I am forever tethered to.

Art has always been my way to process and filter what I come across, what I am subjected to, or what I subject myself to each day; a way for me to exorcise the demons on my shoulder. The paintings are empathic, often inspired by the individual’s strength in the face of their own weakness. The common thread in all of my works is survival of self.

If a viewer is made uncomfortable by my work, then I have done my job as an artist. I have touched something within them that they are not comfortable with. I want to elicit a visceral response but maintain a sense of the absurd, creating works that are both intensely horrifically personal and humourous.

I am inspired by artists that have celebrated the grotesque: Hieronymus Bosch, Joe Coleman, Otto Dix and George Grosz.

This blog is a progression of my work, works in progress, random thoughts etc. You can join me on Facebook or view a gallery of my work on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27952465@N05/

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Your f(r)iend,

Grant Cunningham

Sunday, December 4, 2011

The Negotiation

A birthday present for my 12 year old niece.  When I asked her what she wanted a picture of she told me "cats".  I wanted something that as she grew older, she would begin to see the true apocalyptic nature of this tableau.

The cats negotiating with the queen of the realm; one cat enviously eyes her crown, the other is offering her the cupcake or is he taking it for himself?  The queen's familiar has handed her a hidden ace of spades, signifying fundamental change in the tarot.  All the negotiators at this table are not who they appear to be, each playing their own part in the deception.  Behind, the church doomsday clocks ticks away towards 12 and underneath the table, the mice are planning their own takeover of the realm.







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