12 Pieces To Fall For This Autumn

/ Nedra Matteucci Galleries/

The air is getting crisp and the leaves are changing color – sure signs that autumn is on its way. Get excited with us for all things fall with these stunning pieces available at the Gallery, which truly convey the colors and coziness of the season.

Clark Hulings (1922-2011) - “San Ildefonso After School”, oil on masonite, 24 x 36 in.

Known for realist paintings of village scenes, frequently featuring burros, Clark Hulings’ life revolved around art from the beginning. At just 12, he began studying under Sigismund de Ivanowski, the former Court Painter of Tsar Nicholas II. From there, his biography reads like a resume of impressive instructors and schools mixed with trips spent painting—and gathering inspiration for yet more painting.

In 1973, Hulings won the first Prix de West from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for “Kaibab Trail.” He went on to win two more gold medals and three silver, later earning the institution’s Trustees Gold Medal for his “distinguished contribution to American art.”

Fremont Ellis (1897-1985) - “Autumn Afternoon” (Untitled), oil on canvas, 22 x 30 in.

An ambitious and individualistic painter, Fremont Ellis practically willed himself into the art world. Ellis was an art school dropout bent on learning to paint his own way. After migrating to Santa Fe in 1919, Ellis became the youngest member of Los Cinco Pintores, the first major artists’ group in the early Santa Fe art colony. 

Ellis’ paintings radiate the energy and vigor with which they were painted, each capturing the true essence of its setting. Today, Ellis is primarily known for these vibrant renderings of New Mexican landscapes, which reflect his deep love for his adopted home.

Doug Hyde (b. 1946) - “Lying Low”, Ed. of 15, bronze, 9 x 17 ½ x 13 ¼ in.

Descended from Assiniboine, Nez Perce, and Chippewa heritage, award-winning sculptor Doug Hyde weaves his ancestry into his art. Drawn to its organic shapes, Hyde prefers to carve his pieces in stone before moving on to produce bronze editions. The story embedded within the material calls out to Hyde and, bit-by-bit, he unleashes it.

With works in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Cultural Resource Center, the White House, and other important collections, Hyde is a recognized leader in American sculpture. “Lying Low” is a spectacular example of his favored subject matter and creative use of patina.  

Wilson Hurley (1924-2008) - “Desert Rain”, oil on canvas, 24 x 36 in.

Tulsa-born artist Wilson Hurley is best known for his expansive paintings of Southwestern vistas with wide-open skies and voluminous clouds. A modern-day Moran, Hurley painted with military precision, fastidiously mapping out his palette and canvas to near-exactitude. The resulting pieces are breathtaking in beauty and scale—such as the five 46 x 18 foot (yes, feet) triptych murals on display at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

Paul Strisik (1918-1998) - “October Skies (Galisteo, N.M.)”, oil/canvas, 12 x 16 in.

Though he was born in Brooklyn, Paul Strisik is an artist most closely affiliated with Rockport, Massachusetts where he moved in 1955. An avid plein air painter, Strisik’s works are faithful to their setting, accurately conveying the mood of the moment.

Strisik kept a second home in Santa Fe for many years, allowing him to paint the Southwestern landscapes he found so inspiring. Scenes such as “October Skies (Galisteo, N.M.)” were created during these periods in New Mexico.

Curt Walters (b. 1950) - “Quiet Home”, oil on canvas, 16 x 12 in.

Often called the greatest living painter of the Grand Canyon, Curt Walters' work is not only acclaimed by collectors and critics alike—it has also led to real-world conservation efforts. Walters competes annually in the Prix de West where he’s won the Buyer’s Choice award seven times and the Frederic Remington Painting award three times. However, Walters is not limited creatively to one medium or subject, working in a range of media in his home studio, in plein air, and over his many travels. 

One finds scenes from Italy, overlooks from Canyon de Chelly, a local power plant shrouded in haze, and even roses in bloom—all in one artist’s oeuvre. Walters delivers artistically in every piece, distinguishing himself as a versatile painter with unshakable technical skill.

Herb Mignery (b. 1937) - “Lord Featherwick”, bronze, 13 x 5 ½ x 9 ½ in.

A proud Nebraska son, Herb Mignery left a 100-year ranching heritage in pursuit of Western art. However, his years growing up on the farm left an indelible impact, spurring his enduring fascination with horses, shepherds, and cowpokes. 

A longtime cartoonist for Western Horseman magazine, member of the Cowboy Artists of America, and the National Sculpture Society, Mignery has left his mark on American art. Still, Mignery says public acceptance is his true barometer of success, ever maintaining the humor and humility that’s become his hallmark.

Carl Woolsey (1902-1965) - “New Mexico Aspens”, oil/canvas, 29 ¼ x 51 in.

Largely self-taught and entirely self-motivated, Carl Woolsey was originally drawn to New Mexico after attending an exhibition by Walter Ufer, a founding member of the Taos Society of Artists. Ufer invited the young artist to New Mexico and, under his tutelage, Woolsey’s talents expanded rapidly. Later joined by his brother, fellow artist Wood Woolsey, the two rented a studio together. Both would later achieve commercial success showing in galleries and museums across the country.

William Berra (b. 1952) - “Cottonwood and Posts”, oil on linen, 18 x 24 in.

William Berra is an artist to his core, experimenting constantly with his style, subject, and canvas. Proudly self-taught, Berra doesn’t fear the unknown in his art. In fact, he regularly bends the status quo with his methods, such as using bright underpaintings or leaving raw masonite behind the subject in his work. 

The piece above is painted on linen, which lifts the painting off the canvas with its subtle sheen. These incredible subtleties are a common thread throughout his work, adding a truly special quality to every Berra painting.

Chris Morel (b. 1958) - “Autumn Truchas”, oil on board, 12 x 24 in.

Hailing from the foothills of the Appalachian mountains in rural Maryland, Chris Morel had an early affinity for beautiful landscapes. His father, an x-ray tech, brought home sheets of yellow paper that separated x-ray film as his son’s first sketchbooks. 

Morel spent time as an art director at a printing firm and as staff illustrator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife department before pursuing his own art full time. He eventually settled in Taos where today he paints stunning Southwestern landscapes in his “paintmobile”, a mobile studio purchased from his fellow artist and friend, Walt Gonske.

Brett Chomer (b.1960) - “Antelope Jackrabbit”, Ed. of 10, bronze, 15 x 12 x 6 in.

Entrepreneur, creative, and fixture of the Santa Fe arts community, Brett Chomer is an artist’s artist. His longtime work at the local bronze foundry connected him with countless of the region’s top sculptors through the decades. Chomer also created his own, ranging from shockingly realistic animals to abstract works inspired by nature’s organic forms.

Today, Chomer has stepped back from the foundry to prioritize his own art. Though amongst his artist friends, Chomer is always there to lend a hand or helpful advice to make others’ visions a reality.

Walt Gonske (b. 1942) - “Dry Arroyo with Chamisa”, oil on linen, 17 x 25 in.

New Jersey-born artist Walt Gonske started out drawing comic strips and doodles before attending the Newark School of Fine Arts. After a stint in the Army Reserves and several advertising agencies, Gonske visited Taos to see his sister. His interest piqued, he explored the local art galleries and became enamored with the idea of living and painting in New Mexico.

That dream would become a reality. In 1972, the 29-year-old artist went West to settle in Taos. There, he switched from watercolor to oil paints to better capture the region’s intense light. Gonske later helped form the “Taos Six” artists’ group, which aimed to revitalize the local art market. Today, he’s a mainstay in that art community, still working and painting beautiful, remote landscapes in his “paintmobile.”

These pieces and many more are available at Nedra Matteucci Galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico. To inquire, call the Gallery at (505) 982-4631 or email inquiry@matteucci.com.