Paintings by Neltje will be on exhibit at the University of Wyoming Art Museum through Aug. 28. Neltje is a contemporary Wyoming artist who lives along the Lower Piney Creek Valley near Sheridan. She is known as both an artist and an arts patron. She funds the annual Blanchan/Doubleday writing awards which are administered by the Wyoming Arts Council. The awards are named after her grandparents, founders of Doubleday Publishing.
Here's more on Neltje and her exhibit from the UW Art Museum web site:
One of Wyomings eminent artists, Neltje's (American, b. 1934) abstract expressionist works are, in the words of the artist, an exploration of making the sensed visible, defining moments, and balance the interior reality of passion with the external condition of form. A prolific artist, Neltje explores new directions in combining text, objects, and torn paper into compositions.More on Neltje from the UW Art Museum blog:
Neltje's work is rooted in movement and gesture. Her early works, in the form of sumi-e, a characteristically Asian style of brush painting similar to calligraphy, allowed her the freedom to experiment with line and motion. As her work evolved, she found inspiration in the work of other abstract artists like Jon Schueler and Joan Mitchell. Their bold approach to color and making distinctive marks on the canvas influenced Neltjes own creative process. Her most recent paintings incorporate paper, text, and found objects and like all of her pieces, these new works also tell stories. By using colorful papers and newspapers from her many travels, and objects from friends and colleagues she creates work that is personal and multi-layered. Her compositions balance the freedom of gesture with formal shapes and lines.
The latest in the series of artist interviews by UWTV is now available on the UW homepage. The video interview with Wyoming artist Neltje is also be available on the Art Museum's YouTube page.Image: Neltje (American, b. 1934), PAT: Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia, 2007, mixed media, acrylic on canvas, 72 x 144 inches, image courtesy of the artist.
Neltje was at the UW Art Museum in June to open her solo exhibition, Neltje, which is on view through August 28. While she was here, UWTV producer and director Ali Grossman filmed an interview with Neltje in front of her work. Neltje discusses things like her inspiration, working in Wyoming, and her creative process.
