Wild mustangs, sweeping plains under vast skies, huddled families bound by culture and history—these are the signature subjects of Edward Gonzales, all rendered in a palette as colorful as a Southwest sunset.
“New Mexico is my imperfect, wonderful home, full of color and light,” says the artist, who lives in the Albuquerque area. “Those who share these same emotions know the land and people make it a special place.”
Valley of Cordova, acrylic on canvas, 11 x 14 in.
Gonzales’ latest paintings will be on view at Acosta Strong Fine Art in Santa Fe from July 6 through 22, with an opening reception on July 10 from 5 to 7 p.m. “My gallery show includes landscapes and flower paintings, Hispanic ranchers and village families who live in the Northeastern part of the state,” he explains.
In the 19th century, Gonzales’ family moved from the Rio Grande Valley to the northeastern plains of New Mexico, searching for available land to build a new life. They settled in the Llano Estacado which, in English, translates into the Staked Plains. One of the largest mesas in North America, the area lies at the southern end of the Great Plains, encompassing parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas.
Running With the Wind, acrylic on canvas, 14 x 14 in.
“My ancestors’ courage in having settled in such a remote part of the Southwest inspires me,” says Gonzales. He pays homage to their story in pieces like La Familia Nortena, which captures the stoic strength of a family of Hispanic heritage.
His paintings that depict horses racing across the wide-open plains, as in Running with the Wind, “are another expression of the llano,” Gonzales explains. “A band of wild horses runs free through the panoramic landscape. In Spanish they are called ‘mesteños.’ Over time the Spanish word became mustangs in English. Mustangs running free on the llano is a special subject for me. Wild horses shaped the West as did my ancestors who brought them to the Americas.”
Gonzales also paints still lifes, often florals, that are joyous celebrations of color. Happy Flowersfeatures a riotous bouquet of sunflowers and iris against a cobalt background, and vibrates with life.
Happy Flowers, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 24 in.
Equally bold are works like Valley of Cordova, a kaleidoscope of color and dynamic brushwork that bring the manmade and natural environment into a beautiful state of visual harmony.
“Color imparts life to my paintings,” says Gonzales. “What’s important to me is to connect emotionally with the viewer through subject matter and color. My choice of subject matter has a purpose, to contribute to what people understand as the West and expand that understanding to include my Indo Hispano heritage.” —
La Familia Nortena, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48 in.
Acosta Strong Fine Art 200 Canyon Road » Santa Fe, NM 87501 » (505) 453-1825 » www.acostastrong.com
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