Jeffrey Berryman: Founder of Surruralism at the 2016 Coors Western Art Exhibit

J Klein Gallery artist Jeffrey Berryman is honored to be part of this year’s highly prestigious Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado.  This show, developed by two iconic Colorado entities, has been luring artists and art lovers since 1993 and is recognized as one of the country’s finest western art exhibits.

Jeffrey is being acknowledged for his innovation and interpretation of traditional western themes in a modern and thought-provoking way to the national art scene.  One of his paintings included in the show, Maniwest Destiny, is an excellent example of this.

Maniwest Destiny, Jeffrey Barryman

Maniwest Destiny, Jeffrey Berryman

“I want it to look like a traditional western painting at first,” explains Berryman.  Maniwest Destiny depicts a common western image — a majestic buffalo lying on the plains. However, the details in the painting reveal a story of old and new coming together.  “The buffalo symbolizes the western spirit. As you get closer, you start to notice there’s a tunnel, and you see this old train.” The train enters the tunnel, passes through the buffalo (the western spirit), and emerges on the other side as the light rail heading toward the modern Denver skyline in the distance. “Whether it’s old or new, there’s still the western spirit there,” Jeffrey adds.

Other elements, such as the space and stars above the clouds, create a cosmic sense of timelessness.  “The past and the future share that same spirit,” he says.

Jeff started out as an impressionist, but eventually developed a style that is unique to him.  He enjoys creating work that is “realistic, but not.”  While his subjects are recognizable, he shapes and bends them in a way that gives them a contemporary feel.  His vision is evident in the dimensional rendering of the buffalo’s fur and the movement of the clouds.  The vibrancy is a result of painting on metal rather than canvas.  It’s a time consuming process to build up the layers in order to create that quality of light and depth, he says, but the results are worth it. Some call it HD.  “People come up and get lost in it.  They go to an area of the painting and are drawn in by the little details.”

The J Klein Gallery is honored to feature Jeffrey Berryman and bring this modern interpretation of traditional rural roots of the American West to local art scene.

If you cannot make it to the Western Art Exhibit at the National Western Stock Show before January 24, please join us at the J Klein Gallery Scottsdale on Thursday, March 3, 2016 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, in conjunction with the Scottsdale Artwalk for a special exhibit of Jeffrey Berryman: Founder of Surruralism.

2022-07-26T06:30:51-06:00 2016-01-21, 10:56 pm|Art, News & Events|