Rackstraw Downes (American/British, b. 1939)

Rackstraw Downes doesn't strictly categorize himself as a landscape painter. Rather, he sees himself as an artist capturing the essence of his surroundings and environment. His works are often presented in a panoramic format, revealing a thoughtful balance between minute details and the expanse of their surroundings.

According to the artist, “My paintings are executed from start to finish onsite in the landscape and take months. When you work outdoors, you surrender a lot of control over your subject and that is what I like about it, the interactive, experiential character of it. It is the opposite of starting with a clear-cut idea and projecting that into the work. You learn about the site as you proceed.”

Originally a minimalist painter working alongside artists like Brice Marden, Nancy Graves, and Robert Mangold while studying at Yale, Downes took a significant turn in 1966, shifting his focus to the realist, plein-air style that has become his signature.

A recipient of the MacArthur Genius award in 2009, his work is in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Modern Art New York, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the National Gallery of Art, among many others.

Additional information about the artist can be found here:

https://art21.org/artist/rackstraw-downes/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/rackstraw-downess-art-and-essays-are-two-sides-of-the-same-genius