Finished work · Seattle Prize
Dead Wood
Nov 2025 – Jan 2026
In Dead Wood, a lone figure moves forward beneath the weight of a bundle of lifeless branches, his body bent by the burden he carries. Behind him, a wildfire begins to spread, smoke rising into the sky. Fire is not only destructive but also sometimes a necessary transformative force, clearing the path for renewal. The figure in “dead wood” is weighed down by a burden that he needs to let burn off. Symbolically, it may represent old attachments, addictions, unhealthy relationships, fear or anger. It could represent each part of himself that isn’t perfect and needs to be burned off so he can be born anew. Subtle visual echoes of Christ carrying the cross suggest a parallel between personal burden and sacrifice: the idea that suffering, when faced directly, can lead to purification and renewal. The painting invites multiple interpretations, asking the viewer to consider what burdens they carry, and what within them might need to burn in order for new life to begin.
9 posts and 14 photos from the studio, in the order Daniel made them.
Follow the making ↓The process
