"Pee Sawtooth Mt."

Oil, oil pastel, charcoal on pre-dyed linen

12"x12"

2021

"Mysticism is alive in my art practice. Rooted in animism, I explore how my gender, bodily expression, and artistic articulation are inherently natural and mystical. I link arms with landscapes through my existence in this world, spending time outdoors, and being supported in reverence for and with them. I experience nature as a mirror, seeing myself in it, as it. In this receptive state, I find affirmation for my gender expression as I negotiate and explore my feminine and masculine archetypes through art-making.

I use divination tools in my daily life, such as tarot and prayer. Though I don’t use Tarot in conjunction with art making because I believe art making is a form of divination itself." - Eli Thorne

Eli Thorne (Born 1986) Rooted in his blue-collar upbringing in the Santa Cruz mountains, now living and working in The Hudson Valley, Thorne draws inspiration from these two places: rustic charm, domesticity, folk art, antiques, and working-class masculinity, which he reinterprets through a contemporary lens. Guided by intuition rather than logic, his paintings and sculptures are imbued with a sense of fluidity and spontaneity, mirroring the ever-evolving nature of identity. Cobbling together contrasting shapes and objects, Thorne creates an overall picture that, when seen as a whole, represents a landscape, a body, and a chosen identity. As a trans man, Thorne’s works are a tribute to the transformative process itself, rejecting the notion of a final destination and embracing the idea that perhaps home lies in the journey of becoming. Eli Thorne’s work is a mesmerizing exploration of the multifaceted layers of identity, a testament to the enduring quest of self discovery and acceptance. For Thorne, home isn't merely a destination but rather a state of being, a sanctuary found within the boundless landscape of the creative process.

This work will ship from Santa Fe, NM. Shipping costs and all applicable fees are the responsibility of the buyer.