World on Fire
Original Oil Painting on Canvas of Polar Bears by Geoffrey C. Smith, 2024
60"w x 48"h
This striking original polar bear oil painting captures two polar bears, one adult and one still growing, walking across an Arctic tundra that feels ablaze with color. Executed with an expressive palette knife technique, the canvas features heavy impasto textures that create a brilliant, layered surface. The fiery reds, burning oranges, and glowing yellows beneath their feet signal a changing climate where their world is no longer cold enough.
The artwork is part of the World on Fire series, inspired by Geoffrey C. Smith's time near Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow), Alaska. where the sea ice arrives later each year, and the time for hunting grows shorter. These animals, perfectly adapted for a frozen landscape, now find themselves stranded on land for longer stretches, unable to reach their primary food source: seals.
Polar bears are considered marine mammals rather than terrestrial animals, making them entirely dependent on the frozen ocean to survive. They hunt on it, give birth near it, and travel across it. But as the Arctic warms at nearly four times the global average, that essential ice is vanishing.
Capturing this profound tension, the palette knife strokes clash and dance across the canvas, rendering the bears as fragile, almost ghostlike figures washed in light. Bringing a commanding presence to any curated space, this large-scale piece of fine art captures awe and unease in the same breath. They are still here. But for how long?
“There’s something defiant about painting polar bears in fire. It’s not what we expect. But then again, neither is this reality we’ve created. They belong in a world of ice. If we lose them, it means we’ve lost something in ourselves, too.” — Geoffrey C. Smith
Featured in World on Fire, Solo Exhibit 2025
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Artwork Specifications:
Title: World on Fire
Artist: Geoffrey C. Smith
Medium: Original Palette Knife Oil Painting on Canvas
Subject: Wildlife / Polar Bears / Arctic Tundra
Edition Size: 1
Dimensions: 60" W x 48" H
Shipping
Please Note: Shipping for paintings requires custom handling and is calculated separately post-purchase. Additionally, please note that this piece is only available to ship from Alaska during the summer months. To receive a personalized delivery quote before ordering or for more information on shipping availability, please contact the gallery directly at (772) 283-8336.
Collection Notes
Designed as part of the World on Fire series. View the rest of the series here: World on Fire