Bruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife Paintings

“Imagine a world based on a different logic; a universe comprised of the absurd and paradoxes,” prompts Bruno Pontiroli, whose paintings explore the sometimes grotesque tension between the familiar and the uncanny.

The artist is known for his absurdist paintings of animals with overly long legs, contorted bodies, or myriad mutant-like heads or limbs. They’re often set amid woodlands or meadows evocative of 18th- and 19th-century academic landscape paintings or depictions of formal hunts. Instead, both domesticated and wild animals graze as normally as they would without dozens of heads or udders attached in unnatural places around their bodies.

An absurdist painting by Bruno Pontiroli of a grazing cow with udders all over its body.
“De mal en pis” (2025), 70 x 80 centimeters

There’s something inherently disturbing about an elephant with a body cloaked in trunks or a giraffe with multiple heads and limbs jutting out in all directions. Despite their bucolic settings and generally calm or curious demeanors, as if nothing is amiss, Pontiroli’s paintings evoke a slight sense of dread. What have we done to cause this?

See more on the Pontiroli’s Instagram.

An absurdist painting by Bruno Pontiroli of a giraffe with other giraffes' heads sticking out of its body.
“Les cous montés” (2025), 130 x 97 centimeters
An absurdist painting by Bruno Pontiroli of a giant horse growing out of a smaller horse amid a natural landscape.
“Le trotteur” (2025), 80 x 70 centimeters
An absurdist painting by Bruno Pontiroli of an elephant with trunks all over its body.
“Il trompe son monde” (2025), 130 x 162 centimeters
An absurdist painting by Bruno Pontiroli of a giant bear growing out of a smaller bear amid a forest landscape.
“Jo” (2025), 100 x 81 centimeters
An absurdist painting by Bruno Pontiroli of a giraffe with other giraffes' legs and heads sticking out of its body.
“L’un dans l’autre” (2025), 130 x 97 centimeters
An absurdist painting by Bruno Pontiroli of a pig with numerous pig heads all over its body.
“Copains comme cochons #2” (2025), 60 x 50 centimeters

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Bruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife Paintings appeared first on Colossal.

©

Related Posts

Bruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife PaintingsBruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife Paintings
This 3D-Printed Mod Turns Your Desktop PC...
LAN parties might not be as common as they were...
Read more
Klein Blue Hills and White Cliffs by Wutopia Lab at nightKlein Blue Hills and White Cliffs by Wutopia Lab at night
In Shanghai, Wutopia Lab Injects a Sense...
From retail to museums, Wutopia Lab’s wide-ranging portfolio is unified...
Read more
Bruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife PaintingsBruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife Paintings
GPD Agency Offices – Poznań
BIDERMANN+WIDE utilized bold colors and distinct spaces for a dynamic...
Read more
card_namecard_name
Capital One Venture X Business Card Review:...
Limited-time offer ending soon on March 11th. The Capital...
Read more
Bruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife PaintingsBruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife Paintings
Saturday Indesign 2025: Your guide to what’s...
Saturday Indesign, the most significant single-day design gathering in the...
Read more
Bruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife PaintingsBruno Pontiroli Tests the Boundaries of Familiarity in His Uncanny Wildlife Paintings
Astell&Kern’s PS10: The Hybrid Device That Transforms...
Digital audio players have historically occupied a distinct niche in...
Read more