Revisiting Dave Curtis’s

“Reptiles of a Feather Flock Together”

In this striking painting, Reptiles of a Feather Flock Together, Virginia-based artist Dave Curtis draws once again from his deep well of mythological, historical, and religious motifs. With each viewing, new layers of symbolism emerge—this piece invites reflection not only on ancient deities but also on the broader intersections of belief, power, and human history.

Does this surreal scene pay homage to Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent of Aztec legend? Or is Curtis once again exploring the visual and thematic echoes that link sacred narratives across cultures and eras? At the center of the painting, a coiled serpent rests atop a monumental, skull-like figure whose swirling forms evoke both architecture and living matter—possibly a divine embodiment or relic. The creature’s feathers and serpentine shape suggest Quetzalcoatl, a major deity in Mesoamerican cosmology representing wind, knowledge, and renewal.

Flanking the central form are totem-like columns carved with stylized faces—likely inspired by Mesoamerican art—that further reinforce this connection to indigenous spirituality and iconography. Surrounding these are smaller reptilian figures, dinosaur-like yet oddly expressive, enhancing the theme of serpents and primordial life.

The most jarring and compelling contrast arrives in the lower portion of the painting: a lone human figure, reminiscent of a monk or missionary, stands boldly before an advancing dinosaur, cross held high. This juxtaposition of the sacred and the primal—a fragile human against ancient, overwhelming forces—evokes a moment of confrontation between belief and nature, or between colonizing faith and indigenous power.

In the background, a galleon glides into view, evoking the arrival of Spanish conquistadors and the upheaval they brought to the Aztec world. This small yet potent detail alludes to the legend of Quetzalcoatl’s prophesied return and the devastating misinterpretations that followed.

Knowing Curtis’s broader body of work, one might also detect an allusion to the biblical serpent of Eden—suggesting a fusion of mythologies that questions how humanity has historically framed wisdom, temptation, and divinity.

Ultimately, Reptiles of a Feather Flock Together is not just a visual homage to a legendary god—it’s a surreal meditation on the cycles of conquest, belief, and the ways we mythologize the unknown. The painting rewards repeat viewings and invites viewers to reconsider the symbols that shape our collective memory.