When visiting Colorado, you simply cannot ignore the monumental and awe-inspiring presence of the many peaks and natural wonders of the Rocky Mountain range or the “Southern Rocky Mountains.” Colorado is home to the highest of the peaks in the entire range that spans around 3,000 miles between Canada and New Mexico. Many creatives, for many years and across generations, have been hypnotized by its allure—compelling them to try their very best to not only capture the indescribable beauty of the Rockies, but a taste of Colorado itself.
Renowned artists like Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902), known for his large landscape paintings of the American West inspired by trips of the Westward Expansion, depicted the Rockies in several significant paintings, and captured the Colorado Rockies in Estes Park, Longs Peak, 1877—depicting a dramatic landscape scene of the town that sits at the base of the Rocky Mountain National Park.
Denver, Colorado, skyline. Courtesy Visit Denver.“[Bierstadt’s] painting Estes Park, Longs Peak represents a romanticized style of landscape painting and bears exaggerated details characteristic of Bierstadt’s art, such as the added height of Longs Peak and the dramatic clouds,” says Nicole A. Parks, a past curatorial assistant in the Petrie Institute of Western American Art (PIWAA) at the Denver Art Museum. Bierstadt was a member of the Hudson River School movement, in which works were painted in amazing detail and dramatic elements—the most important being light.
The PIWAA at the Denver Art Museum showcases Bierstadt’s painting and others that depict the Denver area and the Rocky Mountain region, with additional holdings that “date from the early 1800s to the present and include an impressive mix of paintings, sculpture and works on paper by renowned artists who worked in and depicted the West,” reads the museum website. “Our collection of bronze sculptures, several significant paintings by members of the Taos Society of Artists, and examples of 20th-century modernism make our collection one of national significance.”
Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902), Estes Park, Long’s Peak, 1877, oil on canvas, 62 x 98"Further educating and celebrating the artistry to come out of Colorado, the museum also discusses Moraine Park by Charles Partridge Adams (1858-1942), a self-taught artist that lived in Colorado for more than 30 years. The piece departs from Bierstadt’s view of the Rockies in that it is “based on the painting tradition of naturalism (or a realistic description) rather than exaggeration or romanticism,” says Parks.
She continues, “Adams was able to capture the light and atmosphere of the Rocky Mountains, a reflection of his direct and intimate knowledge of the landscape. Moraine Park is located within Rocky Mountain National Park and can be seen today as Adams depicted it.”
Fast forwarding to today, we see Colorado artists, galleries and art institutions continuing in the footsteps of these iconic artists. While the Rockies do not solely define the state as a whole, the landscape remains a powerful influence for many. Continue to read through this section to hear insights from the artists and institutions that are keeping the Colorado Western art scene alive and well.
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Ann Korologos Gallery
211 Midland Avenue a Basalt, CO 81621
(970) 927-9668
art@korologosgallery.com
www.korologosgallery.com
Ann Korologos Gallery is the premier gallery to discover contemporary art of the modern West.
“We hold a space for artists to create and explore the changes in the world around us,” reflects gallery director Sue Edmonds. Changing Course, on view March 4 to 25, features the landscape paintings of Colorado artists Andy Taylor and Peter Campbell.
Interior of Ann Korologos Gallery in Basalt, Colorado. Artwork, from left to right, includes pieces by Margaretta Caesar, Rick Stevens, Diana Woods and ceramic by Michael Wisner.
Ann Korologos Gallery, January on the Colorado, oil on board, 12 x 16", by Dan Young.
Ann Korologos Gallery, Wahsatch, oil on linen, 52 x 46", by Andy Taylor.
All season visitors can explore landscapes by Rick Stevens, Katie DeGroot, Donna Howell-Sickles, Linda Lillegraven, Joel Ostlind and Brett Scheifflee.Compare the interaction of light, shadow and wildlife depicted by Ewoud de Groot, Dan Young, Deborah Paris and Sherrie York. Witness the mastery of positive and negative space in multidimensional works by Michael Wisner, Michael Kessler, Leon Loughridge, Lisa Gordon, Amy Laugesen and Sarah Lamb.
With each visit online and to the Basalt, Colorado, gallery, learn more about painters, printmakers, photographers, mixed media artists and sculptors.
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Claggett/Rey Gallery
216 Main Street, Suite C-100
Edwards, CO 81632
(970) 476-9350
www.claggettrey.com
Claggett/Rey Gallery is nestled in the heart of the Colorado mountains in the quaint town of Edwards, Colorado. This adorable town is the energized heart of the Vail Valley—surrounded by fabulous restaurants, retail, an arts center and bookstore with convenient parking for patrons.
Claggett/Rey Gallery, Confetti, acrylic, 12 x 36", by Hannah Harper.
Gallery interior showing the work of Josh Elliott and Tim Shinabarger.
Claggett/Rey represents some of the finest men and women creators alive today and each has spent decades with their chosen medium. “The spark which makes them unique in the world of fine art is why we are here,” says co-owner Maggie DeDecker. “We love to educate and inspire our gallery visitors with the treasures on display.”
Claggett/Rey Gallery, Last Measures, bronze, 24 x 16 x 23", by Jane DeDecker.She continues, “We know that today’s art collector is faced with many challenges, from monumental art installations to estate planning, and the topic of the day—‘Heirlooms without an heir.’ We are a source of comfort and expertise; we assist in the challenges, excitement and exploration of possibilities, all while helping our clients enjoy the process.”
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Don Woodard
Broomfield, CO
(303) 430-1986
www.donwoodard.com
don@donwoodard.com
“Fine art in wood” is Don Woodard’s style of creating artwork. About 25 years ago, Woodard got tired of watching TV one night, found a photograph taken during one of his pack-horse trips into the Rocky Mountain Wilderness, went to his garage and tried to carve the image into a piece of wood.
Don Woodard, Lady on the Rim, mixed media bas-relief, carved and painted on Linden wood, 22 x 28”It came out good enough that he tried again, and eventually taught himself how to create bas-relief images in wood. He continued to create more artworks in wood until one day someone asked if he could paint the image. Since he began his career 49 years ago as a sign painter, he knew well how to paint. Therefore, he began adding paint to many of his artworks.
He has since refined his style to leaving a fair amount of natural wood showing, then adding paint to select areas of each of his artworks.
Don Woodard, Pack-Horse Rodeo, mixed media bas-relief, carved and painted on Linden wood, 27¼ x 30”In 2022, he and his wife visited the Grand Canyon. The first day they ventured down to look at the canyon, while standing at a guard rail he looked to his left and saw a small group of young people standing on a large rock outcropping. Then, one of the ladies walked over to the edge, sat down, draping her legs over the edge, with a 1,000-foot drop below her. Woodard quickly took a picture. After about 10 minutes she got up and walked away. This event was the inspiration behind his artwork pictured here, Lady on the Rim.
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Darcie Peet
www.darciepeet.com
Raised in Pittsburgh with a love of horses and the West, Darcie Peet moved to Colorado as a child, and again in the early 1960s. “Just turning 6, high on Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, was my first time seeing the mountains, as I threw snowballs in July with my dad,” Peet says. “It was this big, bold, dramatic country that I would never forget and continue to explore as I grew up.” As early as grade school, Peet was fascinated by manipulating paint, mixing color and handling brushes, thus she grew up drawing and painting.
Darcie Peet, Half Hour ‘Til Sundown-Pikes Peak North, oil, 36 x 48"
“Today, those powerful, humbling, backcountry spaces are what I love to explore, whether hiking, cycling, kayaking, riding or skiing,” she remarks. “These wild places are what I choose to translate in my landscape work, from Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado to the desert and canyonlands of the Southwest.”
Collectors can scope out Peet’s new work in Settlers West Summer Show in May.
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MiXX Projects + Atelier
307 E. Colorado Avenue
Telluride, CO 81435
(970) 797-4040
contact@mixxprojects.com
www.mixxatelier.com
“MiXX atelier is a contemporary art gallery in the heart of beautiful downtown Telluride, Colorado, representing emerging and established talent from our backyard and around the globe,” says galley representatives. “Our March exhibit, Iconic is a showcase of four artists: David Kammerzell, Mitch McGee, Rachel Paxton and Ouida Touchon. Each brings a fresh perspective to the classic imagery and motifs that have become emblematic of the American West.”
MiXX Projects + Atelier, Hi-Noon, oil stain and acrylic on layered birch, 37½ x 48", by Mitch McGee. Photo by Abie Livesay.
MiXX Projects + Atelier interior view including Sky Rider, acrylic on birch, 36", by Kevin Chupik. Photo by Abie Livesay.Using distinct media and artistic styles, Kammerzell and McGee cleverly refract Western Americana through their respective lenses of mid-century nostalgia, and playful Pop Art iconography. Paxton’s neon sign paintings breathe new life into aging structures that feel otherwise stuck in time, and Touchon’s mixed media works pay homage to the feminine characters that too frequently go unwritten in tales of the Wild West.
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Sorrel Sky Gallery
828 Main Avenue
Durango, CO 81301
(970) 247-3555
info@sorrelsky.com
www.sorrelsky.com
“At Sorrel Sky Gallery, we believe art matters,” says owner Shanan Campbell. Now in its 20th year, Sorrel Sky features contemporary and traditional Western and Native American fine art and jewelry, photography, sculpture and more.
Sorrel Sky Gallery, Pals, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40", by Thom Ross.
Sorrel Sky Gallery, Black Bird, acrylic and mixed media on canvas, 24 x 18", by Kevin Red Star.
Sorrel Sky Gallery interior view with owner Shanan Campbell, right, and gallery manager Masha Halavach.“Our enduring goal is to create lasting connections between the artist and the art enthusiast, either new or experienced,” Campbell says. “We proudly represent acclaimed and renowned artists such as Kevin Red Star, David Yarrow, Star Liana York and former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse. This past year, we welcomed several new artists to the gallery. Among them are painters Matthew Grant and Julie Chapman, sculptor Rosetta and jeweler Nayla Shami.” —
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