Hunted Projects is proud to present Cradle, a striking new exhibition by Jon Burgerman that brings together a poignant series of aerosol works on canvas. This series of paintings delves deep into themes of vulnerability, human connection, and the primal need for comfort and protection in times of uncertainty. The exhibition will be on display from 4 October to 28 October, with an opening reception on 4 October, 6pm - 8pm.

In Cradle, Jon Burgerman captures the collective emotional undercurrent that has swept through society in recent years. As the world faces ongoing political, environmental, and civic turmoil, the inhabitants of these canvases find themselves suspended in moments of intimacy and reflection. Burgerman’s characters gaze towards an unseen horizon, they look for a beacon of hope amid the approaching darkness, while holding tightly to a companion—a gesture that symbolises both the fragility and strength of human relationships.

Inspired by the global experience of isolation and reconnection during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cradle reflects the shifting emotional landscape many have navigated since the end of lockdown. The euphoria of returning to everyday life has now given way to a complex sense of nostalgia for a recently passed time—a brief moment of pause in which the world seemed to stop—and an acute awareness of the accelerating crises that continue to shape our future.

"This body of work reflects a raw, collective vulnerability. In a time when we're grappling with global uncertainty and an impending sense of crisis, we instinctively seek out connection and reassurance. The figures in Cradle represent that search for solace—both in each other and in the possibility of something better on the horizon," says Jon Burgerman. “It’s about clutching onto something tangible, whether that’s a person, a memory, or even a fleeting moment of peace, while being painfully aware of the chaos around us.”

The use of aerosol paints, with their layered textures and atmospheric gradients, creates a striking visual language that reflects both the turbulence of the world outside and the tenderness of the intimate moments captured within each painting. Vibrant, yet muted tones lend a sense of tension to the works, where vibrant life is undercut by a looming sense of uncertainty. The exhibition serves as a powerful reminder that, in the face of chaos, the search for connection and comfort remains one of the most profound human experiences.

Jon Burgerman (b.1979), lives and works in New York, USA. Burgerman’s Recent exhibitions include: The Great Escape, Better Go South, Berlin; Family, Dopeness Art Lab, Taipei; Crossing Boundaries: Contemporary Figurative Perspectives, Tang Contemporary, Hong Kong; Brand New Second Hand, Ojiri Gallery, London; The Cuteness Factor, Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art, Budapest, Hungary; Vision X, Chengdu Times Art Museum, China; Sim City, Omni Gallery, London; Search Party, Tatjana Pieters, Belgium; No Hard Feelings, Galerie Slika, Lyon, France; Group Therapy, WOAW gallery, China; Fun Factory, M Contemporary Museum, Seoul, Korea; Instagram group exhibition, Tate Modern, London.