Take “A Fool’s Journey” next month in New York City through the creative, traditional, and self-proclaimed kitschy vision of ascending painter Luke Hillestad. When and where?

As he draws heavily upon some of history’s greatest painters, the classical Greco-Roman tradition of the Renaissance and Baroque prevails through the work of Luke Hillestad. Beginning April 1 at New York City’s Paul Booth Gallery, “A Fool’s Journey” will be the latest solo exhibition from a painter quickly ascending in the representational art world. A pupil of the famed European master kitsch painter Odd Nerdrum, Hillestad has amassed an impressive body of work with an eclectic range of themes, including kinship, ritual, wilderness and — during the upcoming exhibition — “the inner landscapes of human pathology and desire for meaning,” the gallery writes.

Hillestad employs the palette of renowned 4th-century BCE master Apelles of Kos (red, yellow, white, and black), which results in a balance and cohesion of color in his paintings. Some of the most famous artists in history adopted the same limitations of palette, including Rembrandt van Rijn, Titian, and — of course — Odd Nerdrum. “A Fool’s Journey” will present several captivating new oils that “invite the viewer to wander, with the fresh eyes of the Fool, down an arcane path,” the gallery continues. “Along the way, we encounter painted rituals, alchemical symbols, and a cast of archetypes bearing qualities of the old but not forgotten. An unpredictable wilderness is the backdrop for the paintings where the power of the natural elements, the animal kingdom, and forest talismans imbue the narrative. Initiation, desire, and a struggle of will are among the themes explored in Hillestad’s large-scale works, painted with a harmonious Apelles palette.”

To learn more, visit Paul Booth Gallery.

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In this ongoing series, Fine Art Today delves into the world of portraiture, highlighting historical and contemporary examples of superb quality and skill. This week we consider a stunning portrait of one of artists’ favorite animals.

In the spirit of the March/April 2017 issue of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, which centers around the very best of equine art, this week’s feature portrait is by a man whose name has become virtually synonymous with superb paintings of horses.

More so than any of his other images of horses, before or after, George Stubbs’ (1724-1806) “Whistlejacket,” circa 1762, reads like a portrait of a human being. Set against an earthy, warm-toned background, Whistlejacket rears on his hind legs, leaping from the air as his form leaps from the canvas. With the painting void of any narrative or other subjects, the viewer is encouraged to muse on the animal’s individual physiognomy and character, which have been captured with an accuracy, knowledge, and sensitivity unparalleled in the history of art.

Foaled in 1749, Whistlejacket rose to notoriety in August of 1759 when he won a four-mile race for 2,000 guineas at York. According to the National Gallery, London, which owns the painting, “Stubbs’ huge picture was painted in about 1762 for the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, Whistlejacket’s owner and a great patron of Stubbs. According to some writers of the period the original intention was to commission an equestrian portrait of George III, but it is more likely that Stubbs always intended to show the horse alone rearing up against a neutral background.”

To learn more, visit the National Gallery, London.

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It’s a great joy learning about new galleries around the country opening their doors for the first time, especially this new space in Denver, Colorado, owned by a nationally acclaimed artist.

The hip Berkeley neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, recently welcomed the addition of Westward Gallery and its renowned owner, Michelle Courier, and her business partner, Patti Klapish. The gallery’s name stems from the business partner’s move “Westward” from Michigan to Colorado. “Making the move to Denver and opening the gallery made sense,” explains Courier. “Denver is vibrant and emerging, and it’s getting the reputation as a fine-art hotbed.”

Located at 44th and Tennyson, the gallery currently features Courier’s magnetic landscape paintings, with more artist representations coming soon. Gallery director Jordan Villacruzes suggests, “We have a number of artists that are excited to display their work in Denver, alongside Michelle’s incredible paintings. By early spring, we hope to have a great variety of new works.”

Via the gallery’s press release: “In addition to the gallery, the new storefront location has a studio where Courier will continue to paint and build on her reputation as one of the country’s leading landscape artists. The ownership duo will also provide commercial and residential art consulting services.”

To learn more, visit Westward Gallery.

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Master painter Roger Dale Brown has been hard at work his anticipated 3 x 3 exhibition, which is due to arrive in just a few weeks. When and where?

Leiper’s Creek Gallery in Franklin, Tennessee, will offer the public an exciting chance to view recent works by acclaimed painter Roger Dale Brown on April 22.  “Originally from Nasville, Roger now resides in Franklin, Tennessee.  Avid about traveling he is compelled to explore regions and subjects that capture his interest,” the gallery writes.  “Roger has made it his life’s study to gather and understand information from these special places.  This expands his knowledge of nature, history, architecture and culture which inspires his to create his poignant oil paintings.”

“Crediting historical artists, such as John Carlson, Arthur Streeton, Isaac Levitan, and John Singer Sargent for their example, Roger has developed his own unique voice in his art and believes that a painting on location, or from life, is an essential element to being an artist.  Roger captures the emotion of the scene he is painting by drawing on his knowledge and his dedication to art.”

To learn more, visit Leiper’s Creek Gallery.

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Just a few weeks remain to view a diverse selection of contemporary American marine art. With over 120 works and countless subjects, there’s surely something for everyone during this national exhibition.

Hurry up! April 2 is when the 17th National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) dismounts at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Each year the ASMA hosts a vibrant national exhibition that highlights the best in contemporary marine art. This year’s showcase features more than 120 works of painting, sculpture, and scrimshaw.

Among others, some of the artists included are Susie Anderson, Sheri Farabaugh, and Russ Kramer.

Competition for 2017 was steep as more than 500 artworks were submitted for consideration. ASMA President Kim Shaklee remarked, “With every National Exhibition comes a dedicated, collaborative effort from the society’s fellows, who judiciously select the ‘best of the best’ for our prestigious traveling collection of works. It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we welcome the public to delve into the mystique of the various mediums in hopes of igniting a spark for the intricacies and nuances lying within the art included in the 17th ASMA National.”

CBMM Chief Curator Pete Lesher said, “We are honored to bring the nation’s best contemporary marine art to CBMM for our members and guests to view and enjoy. We identify closely with the mission of ASMA as we both have the goal to preserve, encourage, and highlight maritime practices.”

To learn more, visit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

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Reinterpreting the 19th-century works of Alfred Jacob Miller, Kent Monkman creates a fascinating dialogue surrounding mythology, indigenous peoples, and tradition this month through his newest acrylics in New York City. Who’s hosting, and for how long?

Peters Projects, in collaboration with GP Contemporary & Gerald Peters Gallery in New York City, is excited to provide Cree artist Kent Monkman with a platform to discuss a range of engaging topics during “Casualties of Modernity.”

On view through March 27, Monkman’s sharply rendered and saturated paintings “appropriate Nineteenth century western artist Alfred Jacob Miller,” the gallery reports. Discussing his intentions with the solo show, Monkman suggests, “Drawing upon mythological sources, both European and Native American, my series of paintings will feature dynamic scenes of indigenous peoples, mountain men, and trappers in various scenes of revelry and interaction. I will include animals in the scenes as they are central to mythologies — from Greek myths to indigenous legends — that express the most profound aspects of human existence and shape our understanding of nature and the cosmos.”

The gallery adds, “Kent Monkman’s New Work focuses on his thematic approach to fine art history that excludes Indigeneity. Monkman is responding to two common problems faced by Northern Native artists and theorists, preserving tradition and retrieving that which has been silenced, as if one could reclaim a speaking position from the past, a space in time prior to and beyond the colonial order. Monkman does not attempt to resurrect the past as it was, but rather implies that knowledge of the past can inform the present and future.”

To learn more, visit Peters Projects.

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Although parts of the United States are digging themselves out from under piles of ice and snow — especially the Northeast — artists and galleries are still fighting for spring! There’s something beautiful blooming in Milwaukee…

Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is poised to open a brilliant and radiant display of new paintings by artist James Winn. It opens on March 18 and continues through April 15; the gallery will showcase a number of Winn’s beautiful floral compositions sure to warm one’s soul.

A reception for the show, along with an artist talk, will be hosted from 1-4 p.m. on March 18 at the venue. As reported by the gallery, “Azaleas, irises, lilies and other flowering foliage once again capture the eye of Illinois artist James Winn. Unlike his landscape paintings with endless skies, Winn is shifting his perspective and bringing the viewer eye-to-eye with portraits of individual blooms and luminously lit flowers set against dark backgrounds. By manipulating light and color, these highly detailed paintings present a sense of Presence that one can experience when alone and attentive in nature.”

To learn more, visit Tory Folliard Gallery.

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Coupled with what the gallery calls “proximity-based technology” along with compelling talent, these two accomplished female painters have taken over and beautified the walls of this San Francisco venue. Deepen your gallery experience here.

Representational painters Elisa Remender and Lauren Szabo have embarked on two co-exhibitions at San Francisco’s 111 Minna Gallery through April 1. Along with their memorable works, the gallery has added what it’s calling “proximity-based technology” in hopes of deepening visitors’ gallery experiences.

Collected by some of Hollywood’s most famous stars, the acrylic works of Elise Remender give a fresh take on the classic pinup model. Titled “Distant Memories,” Remender’s exhibition features some 12 new works highlighting the artist’s deep appreciation for and interest in vintage fashion, Art Deco, and underground pop culture of the 1950s. “Additionally, the vivid colors of the era including pictures of the ocean and bright blue pools have inspired her bathing beauty series,” the gallery adds.

In conjunction with Remender’s show is “Iconographic Drift” — a showcase of tightly rendered cityscapes and signs by the skilled Lauren Szabo. Via the gallery, “Szabo is an Oakland-based artist that has been working with the medium of oil paint for over 20 years. Her recent paintings are composed of man-made objects in the process of being reclaimed by nature. Her subjects are always in an un-restored state, and include paper billboards, neon signs, and incandescent bulb signs. These advertisements have been decayed by the elements. Once containing messages of perfectionism, a dilapidated advertisement is now itself flawed in societal terms. Advertisements nearly always promise a perfect, static, and ultimately false outcome, but by depicting such signs in a state of decay, she reveals the true, aging reality of all objects (and beings) — flawed but arguably more beautiful. These signs are becoming more rare as we continue to move forward in the digital age. She wishes to elevate these overlooked locations and cultural relics into icons with the intention of stimulating dialogue about our societal priorities.”

To learn more about these exhibitions, visit 111 Minna Gallery.

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A current exhibition on view through June 18 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see for yourself how and why this Renaissance city was renowned for its seductive colors — both in reality and through the monumental artists who called it their home. Can you name it?

The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) recently opened a captivating exhibition that could prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the state’s residents. “Glory of Venice: Renaissance Paintings 1470-1520” is a showcase of approximately 50 stunning Renaissance paintings, including major altarpieces, private secular and devotional paintings, and portraits.

It’s not surprising that Venice, Italy, is renowned for much more than its unique geographic location, food, and iconic gondolas. Indeed, for centuries scholars, aristocrats, royalty, and — of course — artists have all become enamored with the jewel-like colors that dance off the city’s canals and pastel-colored buildings. Nearly all the artists who called “The Floating City” home are noted for their use and mastery of color, especially with regard to Renaissance masters, including the Bellini family, the Bassano family, Giorgione, and Titian — to name just a few.

Via the museum, “Twenty unparalleled loans from Venice’s Gallerie dell’Accademia, which houses the finest collection of Venetian Renaissance art in the world, form the core of the exhibition. They are joined by masterpieces from other institutions in Italy and the United States, including the NCMA.”

“Glory of Venice” opened on March 4 and continues through June 18. To learn more, visit the North Carolina Museum of Art.

This article was featured in Fine Art Today, a weekly e-newsletter from Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. To start receiving Fine Art Today for free, click here.