Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller reclining f… Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller reclining f… Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller reclining f… Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller… — edge view Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller re… — detail Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a sma… — shown hanging
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Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller reclining f…
Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller reclining f…
Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller reclining f…
Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller… — edge view
Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a smaller re… — detail
Two distorted human figures painted in vivid pink and orange, with a larger arched figure leaning over a sma… — shown hanging
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Painting by Bryan An 1 Artwork Sold

Tender Instinct

Acrylic, Canvas, Framed by Artist

125cm (W) x 95cm (H) x 5cm (D)

Original Artwork

Framed by Artist

A$4,980

Arrives 4 to 6 Nov

Free tracked, insured shipping Australia-wide.

Packed by the artist and sent to your door.

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Hang it, live with it, see it in your own light. If it isn’t right, tell us within 7 days of it arriving and we’ll arrange collection.

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  • Full refund if the work isn’t right for your space, including framing
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Artwork Description

Tender Instinct was selected as a finalist in the 2026 National Emerging Art Prize (NEAP).

This original contemporary acrylic painting explores vulnerability, protection and emotional connection. Two expressive, abstracted human figures lean towards one another, their elongated bodies suggesting an encounter that is both tender and unsettling.

Inspired by human behaviour, body language and instinctive responses, Bryan An uses gestural brushwork and exaggerated forms to convey feelings that resist words. Vivid pink, orange and yellow contrast with a structured geometric background, creating tension between the figures’ organic movement and their ordered surroundings.

The relationship remains deliberately ambiguous: a gesture might suggest comfort, dependence or the impulse to protect. Rather than offering a fixed story, Tender Instinct invites viewers to reflect on the fragile balance between strength and vulnerability, and the unspoken ways we connect with one another.

Artist Bio
Photo of Bryan An
Bryan An 20 artworks | 1 Sold

Bryan An is a Sydney-based contemporary artist, winner of the 2026 Hornsby Shire Local Artist Award at the Hornsby Art Prize, and a finalist in the 2026 National Emerging Art Prize (NEAP). His paintings explore human emotion, identity and the quiet complexities of everyday life.

Bryan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from a specialist art academy. He went on to build an extensive career in film post-production, animation and art direction. This background informs his strong compositions, expressive use of colour and cinematic sense of storytelling.

Working primarily in oil and acrylic, Bryan brings together figurative painting, portraiture and contemporary narrative imagery. His subjects often inhabit gardens, streets and other familiar places, where small gestures and unexpected details suggest a deeper emotional world. Through expressive brushwork, layered colour and carefully composed spaces, he creates paintings that feel both intimate and theatrical.

Rather than defining a single story, Bryan leaves room for viewers to discover their own connections. His work invites a closer look at relationships, private emotions and the moments that often pass unnoticed.

Commissions
Bryan's studio is in Sydney, NSW Australia