Thomas Broadbent, “Rewilding”
June 21st – July 13th
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 21st, 4–6pm
205 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534
Gallery Hours: Friday–Sunday, 12–5pm & by appointment
PRESS RELEASE
Thomas Broadbent, “The Catch” 20”x29.5” oil on canvas
Thomas Broadbent, “Black Bear in Den” 48x36” oil on canvas
Thomas Broadbent, “Home on the Range” 31.5”x41.5”framed, oil on canvas
Thomas Broadbent, “In from the Jungle (African Elephant)” 48”x72” oil on canvas
Thomas Broadbent, “Budgie on Marshmallow Sofa” 29.5”x26” watercolor on paper
Thomas Broadbent, “Point of View” 24”x36” oil on canvas
Thomas Broadbent, “The Break” 40”x30” oil on canvas
Thomas Broadbent, “Blue Refuge” 48”x36” oil on canvas
Thomas Broadbent, “Playtime” 22”x30” watercolor on paper
The Front Room Presents:
THOMAS BROADBENT
REWILDING
June 21 – July 13, 2025
Reception: Saturday, June 21, 4–6pm Friday–Sunday, 12–5pm & by appt
Front Room Gallery is pleased to present Rewilding, a solo exhibition of oil and watercolor paintings by Thomas Broadbent. In this new series, he explores the coexistence of nature and human environments, depicting animals among the everyday relics of human life. His compositions offer poignant and poetic meditations on our evolving relationship with the natural environment.
The term “rewilding” refers to restoring ecosystems to their uncultivated state, but in Broadbent’s hands, it becomes a speculative and philosophical proposition. His paintings imagine a quiet reclamation where wildlife reinhabits the objects, symbols, and hierarchies left behind by humans. These scenes are not post- apocalyptic but strangely harmonious, suggesting a world where the natural order reasserts itself with grace and quiet dignity.
Broadbent’s style balances scientific observation with a contemporary reinterpretation of the symbolism found in 17th-century Dutch still life painting. In his stage-like scenarios, he approaches his subjects with the detailed eye of a naturalist and the insight of a social philosopher. Through meticulous rendering and unexpected juxtapositions, he en- courages reflection on the fragility of human dominance and the persistent agency of the natural world.
Home on the Range (Bison) presents an American bison standing atop a gold gilded antique chaise, as if reclaiming a space of human luxury. Tufts of native grass sprout from the cushion, and birds perch on the animal’s back and surrounding books. A candle burns on a small side table, its flicker suggesting the remnants of civilization.This surreal tableau evokes themes of endurance, displacement, and ecological inheritance.
In Point of View (Black-tailed Jack- rabbit), a lone jackrabbit sits upright on a tower of stacked books, with its ears pricked with anticipation. Rendered with elegant precision, the rabbit becomes a sentinel figure that is still, aware, and enigmatic. Botanical elements intermingle with the stack of books, suggesting a slow and silent re-absorption of human knowledge by the natural world.
Broadbent has exhibited extensively across the United States and internationally. His accolades include the Pulse Prize at Pulse Art Fair and inclusion in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. His nine-foot-long Lunar Mosaic was acquired by the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies program and is currently displayed at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Broadbent’s solo exhibitions have been held at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Croxhapox Gallery (Belgium), Inspace Gallery (China), and others. His work has been reviewed in The New York Times, The Brooklyn Rail, NY Arts, and more. Thomas Broadbent is represented by the Front Room Gallery.