Ed Mell’s style is unmistakeable—those minimalist, geometric forms depicting clouds, canyons and cacti across a spectrum of vivid Southwest colors. The Arizona-born artist embodied contemporary Western art, working for more than 50 years interpreting the landscapes of the American West. From his time spent at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, to illustrating covers for National Lampoon,to teaching art for two summers on the Hopi Reservation in the ’70s, Mell has built a legacy in the world of Western fine art.
Clouds Moving In, 1980s, oil on canvasAnd since his passing in 2024, his work only continues to bring the genre forward.
A new exhibition at the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art in St. Petersburg, Florida, will shine a spotlight on nine original works by Mell, including several loans making their first appearance in the galleries. Spanning the 1980s to the 2010s, visitors will have the chance to experience a range of paintings that reflect Mell’s dynamic and bold aesthetic.
Buckaroo, 1986, oil on canvas
Four Spirits, 2009, oil on linen
Highlights include the 2013 oil High Desert Clouds, featuring expansive cloud forms suspended above craggy mountains; Nocturne Bloom, depicting a cactus blooming vivid pinks and bright whites against a dark, nighttime backdrop; Four Spirits, which shows four Native American figures; and Buckaroo, an energetic scene capturing a cowboy trying to keep his hold atop a bucking horse. The exhibition will also showcase the artist’s figurative bronze sculpture Procession, one of his most recognized and iconic sculptures.
High Desert Clouds, 2013, oil on linen
“This spotlight expands our understanding of Western American art through Mell’s modernist lens,” says Emily Kapes, chief curator at the James Museum. “He used exaggerated angles and shading in a mesmerizing way to show the moving energy of a thunderstorm or the details of a cactus flower. Seeing these pieces brought together for a limited time gives new visitors and our members a fresh perspective at the James.”
Nocturne Bloom, 2005, oil on canvas
Ed Mell: Legacy in Light opens at the James Museum on Saturday, September 19, 2026, and remains on view through Sunday, January 10, 2027. —
Ed Mell: Legacy in Light
September 19, 2026-
January 10, 2027
James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art
150 Central Avenue St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 892-4200
www.thejamesmuseum.org
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