The Story

This painting was begun in my hometown of Nelson, British Columbia, and later developed in New York City after I encountered Fragonard’s paintings at the Frick Collection. I was inspired by the dreamlike beauty of his wooded landscapes, and by the way his figures seem to inhabit enchanted worlds suspended between reality and fantasy.

The painting was created for Spirits of Brooklyn, an exhibition presented in a beautiful Brooklyn church that explores the meeting point between the real and the imaginal, and the sacred presence hidden within everyday life. It brings together the lush forests and flowing water of my childhood landscape in British Columbia with friends from my life in New York and the iconic panther sculpture from the entrance to Prospect Park.

Sunlight, ephemeral figures, and floating geometric forms transform the landscape into a mystical gathering place where memory, friendship, nature, and spirit coexist. By blending elements of Nelson and Brooklyn, the painting creates an imagined world shaped by two places that have deeply influenced my life.

Materials & Framing

This painting was created with archival oil paint on museum-grade canvas. The canvas was carefully prepared with several layers of gesso to create an exceptionally smooth surface, allowing for delicate details, subtle transitions, and luminous passages of color.

The canvas is stretched over substantial, gallery-depth stretcher bars measuring 1.5 inches deep. The edges are painted white for a clean, contemporary presentation, giving the painting a beautifully finished appearance from every angle. It arrives ready to hang and can be displayed elegantly without a frame.

Spirits of Brooklyn

oil on canvas

24 x 20 inches

$4,500 USD

Worldwide shipping is available. For shipping rates please email kristy@kristygordon.com.