[PROMOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT]
Discovering an artist whose work you might not have seen before is always an exciting moment, where you get to explore their existing oeuvre and see the world through their creative eyes. In this promotional spotlight, the five galleries featured introduce us to artists who are ones to watch. The artists might be new to the specific gallery, be gaining momentum with collectors, or they even could be a longtime painter making a foray into a new style or subject matter. As you read through these pages, remember to make the connection if you see something you enjoy.
ART Elements GalleryNewberg, OR(503) 487-6141 | artelementsgallery.com
Like many artists, Christine Swanson finds that “art imitates life” particularly when selecting her subject matter. She draws from personal experiences and what she loves: gardening and exploring the beauty of the great outdoors. “I am obsessed with light and its marvelous effect on the world. An ordinary tree becomes something of magic once the sun shines through it at the most golden hours of the day,” says Swanson. “Painting in plein air has another meaningful impact on my work. There is something so special about having a painting that was created in the actual place it features.” Represented by ART Elements Gallery in Newberg, Oregon, Swanson is always continuing to learn by drawing and painting using traditional methods and materials.
Arts in the SunsetAmarillo, TX(806) 354-8802 | artsinthesunset.org
Texas-based artist, educator and writer Bethany Fields is recognized for her expressive pastel landscape compositions. She is a studio artist at Arts in the Sunset, located in Amarillo, Texas. As the gallery states, “Though Bethany has certainly been around for the past decade, she is really showing up on more people’s radars these days.” Fields first forayed into pastels after purchasing a set for her daughter years ago and was struck by their luminosity and “rich, buttery texture.” She says, “It’s such an immediate and tactile medium. One can work swiftly to capture just the right light and shadow.”
Astoria Fine ArtJackson, WY(307) 733-4016 | astoriafineart.com
Since 1983, Zhaoming Wu has been exhibiting his paintings around the world in countries like the United States, Asia and Europe. The artist, who was born in China and grew up in Guangzhou City, recently has become fascinated by the American West with cowboys, ranches and desert landscapes appearing on his canvases. Travels to places like New Mexico and Wyoming have been the source of this new inspiration. According to Astoria Fine Art, which represents the artist, “Zhaoming is one of the nation’s most respected oil painters and his shift to Western art has quickly made him the gallery’s best-selling painter, worthy of any serious Western art collector’s attention.”
Blue Rain GallerySanta Fe, NM & Durango, CO(505) 954-9902 & (970) 232-2033 | blueraingallery.com
Arizona-based realist painter Tony de Luz draws on his 40-year career in illustration and graphic design to create paintings that are precise, intricately composed and filled with narrative. His newest exhibition, Street Level, on view August 7 to 23 at Blue Rain Gallery in Durango, Colorado, combines these elements into captivating vignettes of “Southwest Americana.” As the gallery explains, “His latest work explores Route 66 not simply as a historic roadway, but as a symbol of American exploration, nostalgia and cultural identity. By combining technical mastery with a deeply personal connection to the Southwest, de Luz continues to create compelling works that resonate with collectors and contemporary audiences alike.”
Legacy GalleryScottsdale, AZ & Santa Fe, NM(480) 945-1113 & (505) 986-9833 | legacygallery.com
The paintings of Jonathan Noon, who is represented by Legacy Gallery in Santa Few, New Mexico, combine academic-style draftsmanship with expressive light and mark-making. What results are works—with the American Southwest as his central subject matter—that are highly detailed but filled with emotion and movement. Noon’s penchant for the West stems from growing up in the region, but also from wanting to share the history of the area. He says, “Through my work, I aim to transport the audience to a world where history meets the present, where classical meets contemporary. I hope you find as much joy in experiencing my paintings as I do in creating them.”
This story appeared in the Augus/September 2026 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Subscribe today to read every issue in its entirety.
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