The Bachelor Herd

Original Oil Painting of walruses by Geoffrey C. Smith, 2026
18"H x 24"W
 
Documenting the massive gathering of Pacific walruses along the Alaska Peninsula, The Bachelor Herd offers an intimate look at the bulls resting on the volcanic shorelines of Bristol Bay.
Artist Geoffrey C. Smith hiked eight and a half miles along the remote coastline to reach Cape Seniavin, working past steep rock faces teeming with black-legged kittiwakes, common murres, and cormorants before arriving above the bluff. Drawing from field observations, reference photography, and studies on the cliffside, Smith brought the experience back to his studio—capturing the crisp northern air, surrounding seabirds, and fluid movement of the herd cooling off in the surf.
 
Uniquely, the walruses gathered at Cape Seniavin are exclusively adult males. Following the spring mating season, the bulls gather along these traditional Bristol Bay beaches while the females and young follow the sea ice northward, making this summer haulout a remarkable gathering of males that has persisted for well over a century.
 
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Artwork Specifications:
Title: The Bachelor Herd
Artist: Geoffrey C. Smith
Medium: Original Oil Painting
Subject: Wildlife / Walruses / Alaskan Wildlife
Year: 2026
Dimensions: 18"H x 24"W