The Hunger

Artist 

Aaron Sheppard

 53.5 x 39″

About the Artwork 

“The Hunger” is a striking contemporary oil painting inspired by the 1983 cult classic film “The Hunger,” starring Susan Sarandon and David Bowie. This atmospheric piece fuses gothic aesthetic, pop culture iconography, and dark surrealism into a layered meditation on immortality, obsession, and the human cost of desire.

Rendered in rich oil paint with expressive impasto texture, the surface of the painting echoes themes of decay, seduction, and emotional unrest. Susan Sarandon’s haunting presence takes center stage, her face caught in a spectral moment of temptation and transformation, referencing her unforgettable performance in the film’s most iconic scenes. Bowie’s visage lingers in the shadows—ethereal, luminous, and almost ghostlike—symbolizing the eternal tension between glamour and mortality.

Heavy brushwork and nuanced shadow create a sense of movement and psychological tension. The palette—dominated by deep crimson, ash, and gold—evokes ritual, sacrifice, and decadence. The figures seem suspended in time, their expressions revealing the cost of craving eternal youth, power, and relevance.

Perfect for collectors of figurative gothic art, cinematic-inspired artwork, or modern mythological paintings, “The Hunger” explores the fragile line between beauty and horror, fame and oblivion. It invites viewers to confront the insatiable hunger within—both personal and cultural.