Vulture Culture by Phillip Seymour

Vulture Culture
Phillip Seymour
Acrylic on fabric
Wood frame and gold trim
48"h x 24"w x 2"d

The vulture descended in a slow, deliberate arc, its charcoal feathers edged with crimson like the final embers of a dying fire. Its wings, vast and angular, folded inward as if in solemn prayer, casting jagged shadows against the gilded air. The creature was neither grotesque nor beautiful, but something in between—a dignified relic of a world that revered both decay and renewal. It did not scavenge with desperation like the others; it chose its moments, waited for the right kind of silence before indulging in the art of consumption.

Against a backdrop of intricate golden patterns, it hovered between realms, neither fully of the earth nor entirely of the heavens. This was no mere bird of carrion, but a keeper of forgotten rituals, a silent curator of endings. It carried the weight of time in its bones and the hush of passing centuries in the curve of its talons. And as it lowered its gaze, dark and knowing, it did not mourn death—rather, it honored it, embracing the unspoken culture of all things that must one day return to dust.

Get to Know The Austin Artist:
Phill’s enthusiasm as an artist is fueled by his love for the complex aspects of urban environments.
Placing the importance of expression at the forefront of each piece, he is guided by the desire to create authentic experiences of place. He challenges the connotations of place and argues that is more than a synonym for location, offering instead that it is a unique ensemble of nature and culture.