A Wolf in Wool takes the familiar warning of a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and makes the disguise literal.
A wolf stands upright against a dark field of black, plum, and bruised violet, dressed in a single sheep like a garment. The sheep’s wool forms the pale body of the hoodie while its head, forelegs, and hind legs all hang visibly across the front of the wolf. Nothing is hidden particularly well. The predator is recognizable, the disguise is recognizable, and yet the costume is still being worn.
That contradiction is the heart of the painting.
The work considers deception, performance, belonging, and the strange agreement required for a disguise to succeed. Sometimes the danger isn’t that the wolf looks exactly like a sheep. Sometimes everyone can see the wolf—and the wool is simply enough.
The nearly luminous white fleece against the shadowed background gives the figure an eerie, theatrical presence, while the sheep’s expression adds an uncomfortable touch of humor and absurdity.