Parsons Gallery of the West, American Icons, oil on canvas, 48 x 72", by Scott Yeager.

 Western artists in particular have taken great interest in the wilderness genre, recognizing the importance of conservation and historical relevancy. Artist Scott Yeager shares, “A lot of times, when I am in the wilderness painting, I feel like I am in the footprints of the early artist explorers, and I want to continue capturing the wilderness as it is today.”

Brad Teare, Canyon Light, oil on canvas, 36 x 48"

For Yeager’s painting, American Icons, available at Parsons Gallery of the West, we see several buffalo next to a body of water. “The buffalo, for me, is a symbol of the wilderness long ago,” he says. ”This piece captures my love of landscapes, light and wildlife, portraying the buffalo in a timeless setting when they were wild and free.”

Autry Museum of the American West, Echoes of Time, oil, 33 x 47", by Amery Bohling.

For William Alther, the unpopulated and harsh expanse of the north is wilderness defined. “I’ve made a couple of trips to the shores of Hudson Bay to spend time experiencing and photographing polar bears,” says Alther. “For me, they are without question the icons of the Arctic. They also make great painting subjects with wonderful qualities in their form and myriad of subtle colors.”

Top: Brad Teare, Autumn Cascade, oil on canvas, 48 x 48"; Legacy Gallery, Deep in the Woods, oil, 24 x 30", by Michael Coleman.  Bottom: Cindy Sorley-Keichinger, Morning on the Maligne River, acrylic, 7 x 12"; Gallery Wild, The Flow, oil on canvas, 48 x 48", by Caleb Meyer 

Artist Amery Bohling, showing at the Autry Museum of the American West’s Masters of the American West, finds the Grand Canyon to be a main point of influence. “A sense of wonder comes with painting the Grand Canyon,” she says. “Its rich history fills it with endless stories for inspiration. It is also one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Because I live in Arizona, I have this treasure in my backyard.”

Stephanie Burk, Dancing in the Mountains, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 72" 

Continue reading to read more insights from prominent galleries and artists on the importance of the wilderness genre.

Legacy Gallery, Where the Buffalo Roamed, oil, 26 x 30", by Thomas Blackshear II; Legacy Gallery, Heading West, acrylic, 12 x 16", by Jay Kemp.

Michael Coleman’s paintings, also found at Legacy, have been called a “synthesis of man and nature finding union in art.” Legacy notes that “he is able to achieve that union in his art because he has long been on intimate terms with nature. As a boy, he trapped, hunted and fished in the woods surrounding his Rocky Mountain home. Now, he continues to turn to nature for inspiration, artistic and personal.”

Trailside Galleries, The Apprenticeship, oil on linen, 24 x 30", by Dustin Van Wechel.

Gallery Wild specializes in modern wildlife art, showcasing not only the animals but the pristine landscapes they inhabit. The gallery is dedicated to preserving wildlife, and this mission is intertwined with the protection of natural landscapes. Artists at the gallery use light, color and texture in their landscape paintings to highlight the magnificent beauty of wild, open spaces.

 Elizabeth Mordensky, 30 Below, oil finger painting, 36 x 60"  

“Wilderness has long been a muse for landscape painters, who draw inspiration from its unspoiled beauty,” says gallery owner Carrie Wild. “The raw, untamed aspects of nature, with its diverse flora and fauna, offer a rich palette of colors, textures and forms. Silas Thompson and Caleb Meyer capture these natural textures through thick application of oil paint, turning light and space into palpable color. Bridgette Meinhold, on the other hand, uses her encaustic medium to communicate atmosphere. In capturing these elements, artists convey not just the visual splendor of the wilderness but also its deep, intrinsic value. For collectors, these paintings serve as poignant reminders of the world’s natural wonders and the urgent need to preserve them. Each artwork acts as a window into the pristine and often vulnerable ecosystems, encouraging a deeper appreciation and a stronger commitment to conservation efforts. The art thus becomes a bridge, connecting the aesthetic appreciation of nature with the critical necessity of safeguarding it for future generations.”

Top: Cindy Sorley-Keichinger, Autumn Snooze, acrylic, 11 x 14" ;  Cindy Sorley-Keichinger, Tiger Prowl, acrylic, 24 x 36". Bottom: Gallery Wild, Found, oil on canvas, 30 x 30", by Silas Thompson; Brad Teare, Alpine Reflection, oil on canvas, 40 x 40"

Residing on the fringes of wilderness, artist Elizabeth Mordensky immerses herself in Yellowstone National Park’s awe-inspiring ecosystem. “Operating as a wildlife guide, my daily encounters become wellsprings of inspiration,” she says. “In my eyes, every creature, from magpies to bison, carries a narrative worthy of expressing.” In her Gardiner, Montana, studio, Mordensky channels the park’s enchanting inhabitants, skillfully portraying their personality and vitality in her vibrant and expressive oil finger paintings.

 Stephanie Burk, Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho, oil on canvas, 36 x 72"  

Artist Brad Teare was raised in Kansas, and early influences included fellow Kansan Birger Sandzén. Later, Teare moved to New York and settled in the Hudson River Valley. Teare’s work embraces the spirit of painters like Edgar Payne, William Wendt and Vincent Van Gogh. “Influenced by these masters, my painting is a blend of tradition and innovation, capturing the essence of nature with energetic strokes of the palette knife,” Teare says. “I travel the West from my home base in the Rockies, painting sketches, which I use to create larger paintings.” 

Elizabeth Mordensky, Marsh King, oil finger painting, 48 x 30"

The moment of awe when nature—all of a sudden in the middle of a hike or out with friends at golden hour—makes Stephanie Burk’s heart race. “I go into overdrive making my brain remember every ounce of beauty I am experiencing in that moment, so I can go home and get it on to a canvas, [where it] will last forever!” says Burk. “[My] friends Lyn and Steve Koch invited [me] to have cocktails with them at a place they found high in the mountains above Del Norte, Colorado. We drove up higher and higher on dirt roads for quite a long time and popped out in a beautiful meadow. As the party was being set up, I slipped off with my camera walking into the gorgeous sunset in front of me. About an hour later they came looking for me. I had disappeared over the edge taking photo after photo to get the image that would become Dancing in the Mountains. I hope all collectors will have the joy of beginning and ending each day surrounded by the energy and beauty of art.”  —