Phyllis Anderson

I have been painting for nearly three decades, exploring process and outcome, meaning and metaphor. For several years, my work has focused on the landscapes of Colorado and the West with a personal, visionary approach. These paintings are mysterious and sometimes surrealistic, like settings for a fairytale, or a half-remembered dream. The skies hold fanciful shapes, and the colors are often unexpected. Details, like a glowing tree or a spirit animal, suggest a symbolic, ancient recognition. Direct, bold paint application, and expressive mark-making in a variety of media create energy and movement across the canvas. These are lively, complex works.

While the western landscape is perhaps diminished by overuse and exploitation, and threatened in countless ways, the idea of it remains mythic, and holds a central place in American culture. Through my work, I invite viewers to expand their perception of this beloved landscape, allowing an alternative response, one that frees the imagination while celebrating the enduring beauty and mystery of the high country.