Sir Real and the Aquarium – A Collector’s Dream Realized

Between 2017 and 2018, artist Dave Curtis embarked on an extraordinary creative journey, producing his first epic series of twelve surreal paintings. Known interchangeably as The Aquarium Series and Sir Real and the Aquarium, this body of work reflects Curtis’s signature style—rich in metaphor, symbolism, and personal transformation.

At its core, the series explores the theme of climate change, but not just the environmental crisis dominating today’s headlines. Curtis’s work delves into two additional climates: one deeply personal to the artist himself, and another more spiritual and symbolic, inviting viewers to consider how our inner and outer worlds mirror each other. These layers of meaning are further unpacked in the forthcoming Part 2 of David F. Heatwole’s memoir, A Dive into Sir Real’s Aquarium, which details not only his long-standing creative relationship with Curtis but also why this series moved him to spend years designing and producing an elaborate collector’s edition.

The collaboration began when Heatwole, an artist and publisher, saw the transformative power of the series and approached Curtis about turning it into a collectible. Through Main ARTery Publishing, they produced the first book edition of Sir Real and the Aquarium, combining the twelve paintings with poetic and interpretive writings to deepen the viewer's engagement.

What followed was a labor of love. Heatwole devoted nearly a year to designing and assembling a limited-edition collector’s box set featuring high-quality signed prints of all twelve works. Each set is a curated experience, created for collectors who value uniqueness and artistic purpose.

To elevate the collection further, Heatwole and his company—The Art Studios of David F. Heatwole, LLC—spent another year developing two sets of 3D-printed sculptures inspired by Curtis’s surreal world: one set of three larger centerpiece sculptures and another of five finely detailed miniatures.

This intimate and multidimensional collection will debut in the summer of 2025, with very limited availability. For those who recognize the significance of art as both mirror and message, Sir Real and the Aquarium offers a rare opportunity to own a visionary collaboration shaped by friendship, philosophy, and purpose.

Stay tuned—this is more than a collection. It’s a surreal legacy taking shape above and below the surface.