States of Being: A Selection of Works by Eric Zener

While his earlier pieces convey encounters between individuals and water in the form of psychological narrative, his subsequent paintings often focus on the water itself, most specifically the ocean. In the action of the ocean Zener finds “the visual poetry that reflects  human exploration.” Repose offers us a peaceful view. Here he paints small waves and ripples, conveying the sense of a body at rest. 

In Oceanscape and Shifting Tides we can see an evolution towards restlessness. Crests of  foamy white form on the horizon. A prelude to a stormy sea. And finally, in Zener’s impressive diptych Surging II, the storm rages in full force. “This series of black and white  oceanscapes explores the ocean as both subject and metaphor: a vast, restless body that mirrors the emotional landscapes within us all. From crashing waves and violent storms to still waters and serene horizons, these paintings reflect the full spectrum of human feeling, from chaos and despair to peace and clarity.”  

The conception of the ocean as expressive of internal life extends to Zener's choices  regarding pigment. “By removing color and focusing solely on a monochromatic palette, I aim to heighten the emotional contrast inherent in these scenes. The stark duality  underscores the intensity of our inner worlds: the moments when we feel overtaken by  stormy emotion and those rare, quiet stretches of calm. Black and white strips away emotion, allowing the viewer to engage more directly with form, movement, and the  emotional weight of each piece.” 

In Zener’s view, through consciously observing the natural movement of water we may arrive at wisdom. “The ocean, in all its moods, becomes a visual language for  transformation. Just as the sea can shift from still to surging without warning, so too we can move between hope and grief, love and fear. These works invite reflection on the ever changing tides within us: how emotions rise, crash, and eventually settle again. In this, there is beauty, vulnerability, and resilience.” 

“This body of work is not just about the ocean, but about the emotional terrain we all  navigate, day by day, storm by storm, wave by wave.” 

Eric Zener, born in 1966 in Astoria Oregon, is a realist painter living in the Bay Area who has long found inspiration in water. Since earning his BA from the University of California, 

Santa Barbara, Zener has developed a distinctive visual language centered around the  human figure immersed in water. Zener’s work straddles realism and metaphor as it strives  to portray our inner experience.  

Since 1988 Zener’s paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States and  internationally, with numerous solo exhibitions at Gallery Henoch in New York City. His career has also been marked by a strong presence at major art fairs, including Art Miami,  Art Basel Miami, Art Chicago, and the Dallas Art Fair.  

Gallery Henoch has been a leading presence in realist painting since 1982. Bringing  together artists from the United States, Europe, and Asia, the gallery represents painters  who combine imagination with a strong individual voice. 

George Henoch Shechtman, director and founder of Gallery Henoch, has been a New York City art dealer since 1966 when he opened Christopher Street Gallery in Greenwich Village.  In the early 1970s, the gallery moved to Madison Avenue and became known as  Christopher Gallery. As the art world gravitated toward Soho, Shechtman opened Gallery  Henoch on Wooster Street in 1982. Nearly two decades later, when Chelsea emerged as  an art hub, he relocated Gallery Henoch to 25th street. 

Over nearly six decades, Gallery Henoch has remained committed to presenting work that  celebrates the enduring power of realism while supporting artists who bring fresh  perspectives to the tradition.