“The values, concerns
and life of a society are reflected in the art of that society. In reality the
artist is the soul of a society. Thus, a work of art must expand beyond the
image to a timeless message that is central to both the quality and expression of
the work. Throughout history the artist has sought to penetrate the surface of
appearance to explore the intimate visions, passions and spirit of their
cultural environment. Transcending mere technical ability, the artist must
communicate with the hearts of people, places and ideas, for in the end his
work alone will stand as monument to that culture” – Kim Douglas Wiggins
The bold, brilliant and heavily
impastoed paintings of Kim Douglas Wiggins (b. 1959, living in New Mexico) have
been eagerly acquired by private collectors, corporations and museums for
almost three decades. Yet his oeuvre continues to unfold like a time-lapse film
of flowers, undulating with the same energy that he packs into each
composition.
From deep roots in his native New
Mexico through the influence of three years in Europe and the inspiration of
Expressionism, American Regionalism and Hispanic Folk Art, Wiggins has
distilled the very nectar of his environment in canvases that capture the
warmth
and texture of subjects that are a part of his soul. Although primarily
self-taught he was encouraged to pursue his unique style through guidance and
critique from regional masters Alexandre Hogue and William Lumpkins. His only
formal instruction came through a master’s class at the Santa Fe Art Institute
with his neighbor Henriette Wyeth. Wiggins often cites the influences of
Wyeth’s husband, Peter Hurd when discussing sources of influence on his work.
Much like Hurd, Wiggins is among only a handful of artists who derive their
roots from the passionate terrain that has attracted so many.
“K. Douglas (Kim)
Wiggins’ landscape paintings dance to deep and joyous music. The colors roll
and flow with the New Mexico hills and skies. The paintings are so incomparably
vigorous that they seem like those desert plants which bloom in the most
adverse conditions, leading one to believe that the artist must have struggled
likewise. The truth is quite the opposite: the artist’s gift has been nurtured
throughout a lifetime… The artist has been steeped in the light, colors, forms
and details of the New Mexico landscape from birth, unlike most of the fabled
New Mexico painters past and present who came in from other parts of the world.
He grew up on the family ranch near Roswell, surrounded by people who loved
art.”
–Author,
Suzanne Deats.
(Courtesy of Kim Wiggins)
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