Santa Fe, NM
Nedra Matteucci Galleries, June 23-July 21
Walt Gonske, Tea Time, 2009, oil, 32 x 36.
This story was featured in the June 2018 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art June 2018 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
In December, the Taos Art Museum at Fechin House celebrated the work of renowned plein-air painter Walt Gonske. The show, titled The Art of Walt Gonske: A Retrospective, was an expansive overview of four decades of vivid, colorful landscapes from around the world. This month, the show travels to Nedra Matteucci Galleries, which has represented the artist for more than 30 years. The exhibition opens on Saturday, June 23, with an artist’s reception from 1 to 3 p.m.
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- Walt Gonske, Ranchos Adobe, 1991, oil, 28 x 30.
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- Walt Gonske, Palm Canyon, 2003, oil, 30 x 26.
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- Walt Gonske, Late June in my Garden, 2008, oil, 28 x 24.
“It is not only an honor for us to host this show considering the depth of Walt’s career,” says gallery owner Nedra Matteucci. “But it is also very rewarding and reflective of a long-lasting friendship and working relationship that we value highly.” The show features 40 works from Gonske’s personal collection, including watercolors from the 1970s. None of the paintings have been featured in the gallery prior to this show, Matteucci says. The artist has decided to sell the works through the gallery to make more room for new art in his personal collection.
Gonske has long been regarded as a master of plein-air painting. After moving to New Mexico in 1972, he began painting its scenic beauty. The artist creates both small field studies and larger canvases on site, working from a van he has designed to fit both his creative process and his wandering spirit. “His on-site painting techniques and his dedicated search for beautiful, undiscovered locations make his work compelling and fresh,” Matteucci says.
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- Walt Gonske, Taos Iris Garden, 1994, oil, 36 x 38.
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- Walt Gonske, Teewinot, 1987, oil, 36 x 34.
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- Walt Gonske, The Pacific From Asilomar Beach, 1999, oil, 24 x 28.
The show features scenes from across the Southwest, as well as fish markets in Mexico, boat docks in Greece, the California coastline, still lifes, and more. Matteucci says Gonske’s growth and artistic process distinctly set him apart from the many other artists who find inspiration in the southwestern landscape. “Walt is naturally observant and visually perceptive while extremely dedicated to his growth as an artist,” Matteucci says. “His paintings render the landscape or still life with beautiful strength that is uniquely characteristic of Walt.” The works remain available for purchase throughout the show until it closes on July 21. A hardcover catalog featuring the works from the show is available for purchase. —Mackenzie McCreary
contact information
505.982.4631
www.matteucci.com
This story was featured in the June 2018 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art June 2018 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
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