Kiechel Fine Art Presents: 'A Legacy of Painting: Examining Four Perspectives' Artist Talk

A Legacy of Painting: Examining Four Perspectives brings together the distinctive talents
of Dan Howard, Keith Jacobshagen, Aaron Holz, and Chad M. Olsen. For the past seven
decades, Howard, Jacobshagen, and Holz have inspired and directed generations of
young artists in their own careers and artistic pursuits. Chad M. Olsen is a prime example
of their impact.
Keith Jacobshagen’s paintings are internationally renowned for their serene and
expansive depictions of Midwestern landscapes. His work captures the subtle beauty of natural scenes, focusing on the interplay of the light and atmosphere of rural
landscapes.
Aaron Holz’s paintings, which also delve into the intricacies of natural forms, play with
pattern, atmosphere, and illusion without being bound by the tenants of representation.
His work incorporates elements of portraiture, fragments of nature, and symbolic
imagery, creating a dynamic and often surreal visual experience.
Dan Howard’s paintings are characterized by their vibrant use of color and his semi
realistic approach that falls between abstraction and representation. His work focuses on
abstraction by means of rearrangement, distortion, and purposeful selection of elements
making up an entity, to the point that the entity now has a presence relatively unique to
the surface at hand. Howard enjoys making something unpredictable out of the
predictable.
Chad M. Olsen’s paintings offer a more meditative and contemplative approach by
exploring texture and color to communicate emotions. His use of muted colors and
subtle gradations create a balance of both the serenity and harshness of nature.
From Jacobshagen’s expansive landscapes to Holz’s intricate compositions, Howard’s
expressive brushwork and Olsen’s subtle abstractions, the exhibition offers a profound
commentary on the evolving nature of contemporary painting.