[PROMOTIONAL SPOTLIGHT]
The rugged beauty of the American Southwest continues to captivate artists who often go out in search of places to translate in paint. Every brushstroke is an interpretation of the atmosphere and aesthetic as well as a reflection of the artist’s experience in the land. In this promotional spotlight, our editor worked with the galleries featured to present works of art that encapsulate the region through its plant life, vast expanses and unique mountain formations.
Barbara Meikle Fine ArtSanta Fe, NM(505) 992-0400 | meiklefineart.com
The paintings of Barbara Meikle, who grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and owns Barbara Meikle Fine Art in Santa Fe, are colorful and texture-filled compositions spanning a variety of subject matter. For her landscape paintings, she focuses on the colors of the desert. She explains, “The beauty of the desert is that you have this huge vault of sky that dominates the frame. So whether it’s soft blue-greens of the morning or the brilliant pinks and reds and yellows at sunset, you have something that’s really inspiring.” Every canvas also is an experience of layers of texture that come alive through her mark-making that alternates brushstrokes with palette knife strokes.
Claggett/Rey GalleryEdwards, CO(970) 476-9350 | claggettrey.com
Revered artist James Reynolds was best known for his paintings of cowboys and First Nations people within the landscape. As his career continued, he shifted the landscape to his primary focus. Maggie DeDecker, co-owner of Claggett/Rey Gallery in Edwards, Colorado, which offers his work on the secondary market, explains: “With his colorist palette and passion to compose and paint the best painting possible (and Jim was not shy about sharing his critiques about good and bad compositions), Jim could capture the nuances of nature with precision and luster. Having grown up in the desert and living in and around Arizona most of his life set the stage for his tenacity and genuine love of the desert west.”
DEGALLERYBryan, TX(979) 704-3090 | degallery.us
While growing up on a family ranch riding horses with her father, artist June Dudley was always observing the landscape. Her travels only added to her interest in the beauty of places, which has translated into her vivid paintings. Even if Dudley’s compositions include figures or animals, there is always a connection to the land. Her work, which can be found in exhibitions at DEGALLERY in Bryan, Texas, is noted for its color and lighting, giving the viewer a look into her inspirations. Dudley elaborates, “I hope to convey in my paintings my love for the land and subjects that I paint through my use of color, design and the moods I create.”
Ian Russell Gallery of Fine ArtPrescott, AZ(928) 445-7009 | ianrussellart.com
The subtleties of light in the skies and lands of the America West have become signature aspects of Don Rantz’s artwork. Rantz, who was raised in Williams, Arizona, spent his youth exploring the forests and mountains behind his home, giving him an appreciation of the region. In the 1980s, he studied oil painting and figure drawing at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona, but in 2003 transitioned to working in pastels. He has found that the medium’s “extensive range of dark and light colors enabled him to convey the realistic feeling of the land in an exciting, new way.” Works like DESERT ARROYO are available through Ian Russell Gallery of Fine Art in Prescott, Arizona.
Legacy GalleryScottsdale, AZ & Santa Fe, NM(480) 945-1113 & (505) 986-9833 | legacygallery.com
A 13th-generation New Mexican, Arturo Chávez finds inspiration for his paintings in the landscape of the American Southwest. Spending time experiencing the terrain and how the light interacts with the land is essential to his artwork. Many of his works, which are completed in the studio, begin with ideas from plein air studies and drawings. He also will take photographs while out in the field that are used as reference later. Having been a full-time artist since 1980, Chávez has exhibited across the United States and his work is in a number of permanent collections including at the Tucson Desert Art Museum and the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. His artwork can be found at Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
This story appeared in the February/March 2026 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Subscribe today to read every issue in its entirety.
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