In Secret Magic Spirit World, Carson Monahan infuses seemingly ordinary moments with an otherworldly presence, heightening reality while blurring the boundaries between the physical and the spiritual. Elements of symbolism, particularly animal figures, appear throughout his surreal landscapes, emphasizing tension between natural instinct and mysterious occurrences that call our human intuition and awareness into question.

The artist’s influences range from fantasy, folklore, renaissance, and mythology to dreams and the subconscious mind. Similarly, Monahan’s hauntingly beautiful paintings explore themes of mortality, renewal, anxiety, alienation, longing, time, and the concept of impermanence—leaving viewers to contemplate their own interpretation.

Carson Monahan is a self-taught painter living and working in Detroit, Michigan. His work merges contemporary narratives with echoes of classicism and surrealism to expose the multifaceted human condition. As he delves into the realms of human emotion and thought, Monahan further unveils the connections between psychological landscapes and spiritual dimensions of existence.

Monahan received a BBA from Eastern Michigan University (2012) before pursuing a career in art, later awarded a residency at Willow House, Terlingua, TX (2023). He has had several recent exhibitions at the Conduit Gallery, Dallas, TX; Monument, Kingston, NY; and Monya Rowe Gallery, NYC.

Artists in this Exhibition

• Carson Monahan

Artist Video