Madaras Gallery | October 28-November 21, 2026 Tucson, AZ

Inspiring Views

Diana Madaras unveils new Western work at a solo show in Tucson, Arizona.

By Michael Clawson

Diana Madaras has been painting for more than three decades, so the things that inspire her come from places far and wide. For her newest solo show, the artist is focusing on that single word and has even named the show after it—Inspiration.“[It is] that elusive moment when observation becomes possibility, and the ordinary suddenly demands to be painted,” she says.

Yellowstone Charter Members, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 60 in.

Inspiration opens October 28 at Madaras Gallery in Tucson, Arizona. Although the show opens in October, collectors are also invited to the artist reception on November 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Twenty-five works will be available at the Southern Arizona exhibition.

Images in the show will include animals, landscapes, sunsets and much more. Many of them started with photos taken by the artist. “When I am ready to begin a new painting, I rifle through the photos until I find one that triggers inspiration at that moment,” Madaras says. “I use the photo as a starting point and then let the creative process unfold.”

Sedona Creek, acrylic on canvas, 12 x 16 in.

Paintings available include Sedona Creek, showing a gentle stream carving through a beautiful desert location. “Arizona is rife with spectacular scenery, and Sedona is no exception,” the artist says. “This fanciful depiction of Cathedral Rock is my interpretation of how I felt when I saw the creek meander through the colorful scene towards the stunning rock formations.”

In Yellowstone Charter Members,Madaras paints four buffalo against loosely painted background. “I started with an abstract background, then worked fanciful but recognizable bison into the scene,” she says. “These guys are the charter members of the territory, here long before humans arrived on the scene.”

Stormy, watercolor and pastel, 16 x 20 in.

Strong elements of abstraction return in Stormy, a watercolor and pastel painting showing a cactus trio. “The skies in Arizona have a certain look when the monsoons are imminent. They are moody and layered with interesting clouds,” she says. “This painting is an example of abstract realism, which is one of my favorite ways to paint—starting with a realistic subject, then move towards pure creation. I like to let the painting take me wherever it will. I’m not interested in copying a scene in a photorealistic way but rather creating something never seen before, as I express my feelings about the subject.”