Arturo Antonio Chavez (b.1949)

In 2000, Arthur Usner changed his name legally, through the court system to Arturo Antonio Chavez in honor of his Mother's side of the family. He has been painting under this name and signs his paintings "Arturo" since 2000. There was period of one year that he signed his paintings Usner y Chavez as a segue and a means for collectors to make the connection to Arturo Chavez. Arturo illustrated one book using the name Usner y Chavez; Benigina's Chimayo, (Museum of New Mexico Press-2001).

Arturo Chavez was born in Embudo, near Taos, New Mexico and was raised in both Los Alamos and Chimayo, New Mexico. This culturally rich area with its geographically striking landscapes sparked a deep and abiding devotion for painting in Arturo from an early age. He painted throughout his childhood and teen years, but did not turn his full attention to his artwork until the late 1970s. In 1983 he made the decision to pursue painting as his full-time career. Arturo's style is his own, but he acknowledges strong influence from several mentors: Irby Brown, Wilson Hurley, Mie Shu Ou, and Arthur Sussman.

Chavez has exhibited beyond the United States including at the US Embassy in Moscow and in the US Embassies in both Croatia and Guyana. Among his list of clients are the Madi Museum in Budapest Hungary; Fuji Electric in Japan; Sandia BMW in Albuquerque; New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico; The Taos National Guard; The Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos; The Kierland Westland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona; and the Bernalillo County Court House in Albuquerque.

Chavez resides and paints in Placitas, New Mexico with his wife Jennifer and their son, Benjamin.

He is best known for his large-scale western landscapes including: the Grand Canyon, Canyon De Chelly, and the New Mexico and Arizona desert.

Chronology:
1949: September 30, Embudo, New Mexico, USA

1971-73: University of New Mexico, music studies-concert classical Guitar

1970-80: Vice President and Corporate Pilot for a manufacturing firm, Albuquerque, NM

1980 to the present, professional artist. Visual Art Education: Self- educated

1997 Juries the National Pastel Society Show

1995 PARIS- four month studies of Art Geometric with Societe des amis de art Madi. Studies in design, layout, color and fabrication in the studio of Carmelo Ardin Quin, founder of the Madi Movement and Octavio Herrera, Professor of contemporary art, University of Paris.

1990 Rodey Law Firm- Chosen from 1,000 applicants as the recipient of a $20,000.00 commissioned painting entitled Sandia Thunderstorm.

2002: Commission for the Westin Kierland Resort- Scottsdale, AZ (40 x 72) Oil Painting of the Catalina Mountains North of Tucson, AZ)

2001 One of seven Jurors for the New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair

2000 Chosen from over 100 applicants as the recipient of a $29,000.00 1% for Arts public commission for the Bernalillo County Court House

Changes his name from Usner to Chavez in honor of his mother and Grandmother.

Exhibitions and Awards:
2010
Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award at the 2010 Quest for the West Show and Sale, September 10. The painting titled: Mount Wilson Winter 56-1/2" x 90" is now in the permanent collection of the Eiteljorg Museum.

2009
Victor Higgins Work of Distinction Award at the 2009 Quest for the West Show and Sale, September 11.

2003
Altermann Gallery Auction, November 2003 -Santa Fe, NM
Arturo Joins Saks Gallery-Denver, Colorado

2002
New Mexico Art in Public Places-Acclaimed Artists Series. Taos National Guard. ($10,000.00 Purchase Award)
New Mexico Art in Public Places, New Mexico State University. ($20,000.00 Purchase Award-Acclaimed Artists Series).
Oil Painters of America, Chicago, IL Group Exhibition

1999
Da Madi a Madi Civica Galleria D'Arte Moderna, Gallarte, Italy
Hommage De Madi A Gorin Group Exhibition-Galerie Convergence, Nantes, France
Galeria De Arte Moderno, Group Exhibition, Margarita, Venezuela
Arturo is one of the Jurors for the New Mexico State Fair

1998
Arte Struktura Gallery- Solo Exhibition-Albuquerque , NM U.S.A.
Arte Contemporanea- Palazzo Ducale di Revere-Mantova, Italy
1st Prize and two Purchase Awards, Mesilla Valley Arts Show, Las Cruces, NM
Ray Tracey Gallery, Group exhibition, Santa Fe, NM
Salon de Comparaisons, Group exhibition, Paris, France
Madi Art Festival Budapest, Group exhibition, Hungary
Internazionale Arte Madi, Group Exhibition, Italy
Dartmouth ST. Gallery, Group exhibition Albuquerque

1997
Knox Gallery, Solo exhibition Denver, CO
Ray Tracey Gallery, Solo exhibition Santa Fe, NM
Hammond Gallery, Group exhibition Columbus, OH
Ray Tracey Gallery, Group exhibition Santa Fe, NM
Huntsman Gallery, Group exhibition, Aspen, CO

1996
Citta Di Omegna Verbano, Italy.
Arte Struktura Gallery Milano, Italy

1995
Nemzetkozi Art Festival Gyor 95, Gyor, Hungary
Galerie Latzer, Kreuzlingen Switzerland, purchase acquisition for gallery collection and group show.

1994
Ray Tracey Gallery, Solo exhibition, Santa Fe, NM

1993
J. Lewis Bowker Gallery, Solo exhibition Palm Desert, CA
Center Street Gallery, Group exhibition Jackson, WY
Magnifico, Albuquerque Festival of the Arts
Ruthven Gallery, Group exhibition Lancaster, (Columbus) OH
3rd Award, National Small Painting Exhibition, Albuquerque, NM
Ray Tracey Gallery, Solo exhibition, Santa Fe, NM

1992
L'Atelier Gallery, Invitational group exhibition, New York
Fuji Electric Japan, Work purchased for corporate board room, Tokyo
Governor's Gallery, Invitational exhibition, Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque Museum, group show WFS 17.
Dunnegan Museum, Bolivar, MI, Two works purchased for permanent collection.

1991
U.S. Embassy, Moscow, Russia. Two year honorary exhibition (68 x 120 painting entitled "Dos Alamos".

1990
KNME, Public Television Exhibition.
Preusser Gallery, Invitational group show, Taos, NM
E.S. Lawrence Gallery, group exhibition, Aspen, CO
Millicent Rogers Museum, group show, Taos, NM

1989
Taos Gallery, Solo exhibition, Taos, NM
Monte Wade Fine Arts, Solo exhibition, Santa Fe, NM

1988
Governor's Gallery, invitational group show, New Mexico State Capital.
University of New Mexico Centennial Gallery, invitational show.
Arthur Sussman Gallery, Solo exhibition, Albuquerque, NM
Artifacts Gallery, invitational group show, Albuquerque, NM
Centennial Gallery, Three person show, University of New Mexico

1987
San Diego Watercolor Society Award, New Mexico Watercolor Society, Group exhibition, Albuquerque
New Mexico State Fair Professional Show, Albuquerque (First Place Award)
New Mexico Water Color Society Open Show, Albuquerque (Second Place Award)

1986
ART USA, National competition, Grand Junction, CO

Collections:
Westin Kierland Resort-Scottsdale AZ. (Commission)
New Mexico Art in Public Places-Acclaimed Artists Series-
1) New Mexico State University- Purchase
2) Taos National Guard- Purchase
Bernalillo County Court House (Public Commissions)
Galerie Latzer, Keruzlingen, Switzerland
Madi Museum, Gyor, (Budapest) Hungary
Dow Chemical, CEO Collection, Cincinnati, Ohio
Fuji Electric-Japan, corporate collection.
Ella Coarothers Dunnegan Museum, Bolivar, Missouri.
Ebner Industrie Ofenbau Gesellschaft M.B.h, Linz, Austria
Wells Fargo Bank, Hobbs, NM
New Mexico Watercolor Society Permanent Collection.
Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Aiken & Robb, PC, Albuquerque, (Commission)
Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM
Natural Health Clinic, PA, Albuquerque, NM (Commission)
John M. Eaves, Attorney, Albuquerque, NM (Commssion)
Dr. and Mrs. William Fitzpatrick, Albuquerque, NM
Dr. and Mrs. Robert Reidy, Albuquerque, NM (Commssion)
Dr. Michael Federico, Albuquerque, NM, (Commssion)
Sandia BMW, Albuquerque, NM
Earl Norris & Linda Rockwell, Attorneys, Albuquerque, NM (Commssion)
Diagnostek, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (Commssion)
Dr. and Mrs. Reginald De Pelichy, Albuquerque, NM
The Honorable Pete Dinelli, Albuquerque, NM
David G. Houseman, Attorney, Albuquerque, NM (Commssion)
Carl and Linda Alongi, Albuquerque, NM (Commssion)
Steve Bass, Attorney, Albuquerque, NM
Burton, Rein, Ph.D., Albuquerque, NM
Howard Rabinowitz, Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Robert Engle, P.C., Santa Fe, NM
Duke McElroy, Attorney, Orlinda, CA
E.L. Taubert, Attorney, Sam Benito, TX
Harvey Blaustein, Attorney, Princeton, NJ
Dr. & Mrs. Tucker Haltom, Albuquerque, NM (Commssion)
Dixon Hughes, MD, Sacramento, CA (Commssion)
Fisher-Haas Infinity, Houston, TX
Laurence Hymans, Bethlehem, PA
Nelson & Simmons, Tulsa, OK
Tony Duval, Attorney, Santa Fe, NM

Publications:
Feature Article, Southwest Art Magazine, December, 2002
Feature Article, Focus Santa Fe, June/July 2002
Albuquerque Journal, West Side, Feature Article, December 29, 2001
Feature article, Focus Santa Fe Magazine October, 2000
Feature article, Albuquerque Journal-Arts & Culture November 15, 1998
Article, Art Talk Publication, August/September, 1998
Corrales Comment, Visual Arts, January, 1995.
Feature Article, Albuquerque Tribune Options, March, 1992
Feature Article, International Fine Art Collector Magazine, November, 1991
Feature Article, The Santa Fean Magazine, 1990
Article, Art Talk Publication, March, 1990
Article, Art Talk Publication, August/September, 1998
Southwest Art Magazine, Feature Article, July, 1989
Take Five Magazine, Feature article and cover, PBS award-winning publication, 1986.


Information provided by the artist

"Arturo's work combines his rich New Mexico heritage with an international sophistication...Life is full for this native son who celebrates life and the land with his art and in doing so, lends the rest of us a bit of his magic." (Focus Santa Fe, October 2000)

Arturo Chavez was born in Embudo, New Mexico, and raised in both Los Alamos and Chimayó, New Mexico. This culturally rich area with its geographically striking landscapes sparked a deep and abiding devotion for painting in Chavez from an early age. He painted throughout his childhood and teenage years, but didn't turn his full attention to his artwork until the late 1970's.

In fact, Chavez first studied classical guitar at the University of New Mexico before deciding to channel his creative energy to painting. He worked as a sales executive and corporate pilot while taking figure drawing classes and studying art in the museums in New York and Chicago, and began painting full time in 1983 after taking a hiatus to sail the coast of California. He then began painting large-scale landscapes and abstract, expressionistic renderings of Indian dancers.

Eventually, he moved from watercolors to oil and acrylics. Chavez' style is his own, but he acknowledges strong influences from several mentors, including Irby Brown, Wilson Hurley, Mie Shu Ou and Arthur Sussman. He has enjoyed international recognition, having exhibited in the U.S. Embassies in Moscow, Croatia and Guyana.

Among his list of clients are many corporate and private collectors, such as the Madi Museum in Budapest, Hungary, Fuji Electric in Japan and the Bernalillo County Courthouse in Bernalillo, New Mexico.The Fall 2001 "Tradicion Revista" stated that "New Mexico landscape painter Arturo Antonio Chavez is an artist of great skill, creating some of the most compelling images of the American Southwest…One look at one of Arturo's landscape paintings and it is immediately apparent to the viewer that this relationship of artist to landscape is a long-lived love match."

Chavez still enjoys painting the landscape of New Mexico, but has also branched out to the desert southwest, Big Sur forests and the beaches of Northern California.

Chavez has been featured in the following publications:
Feature Article, FOCUS SANTA FE, June/July 2002
La Revista Article, Fall 2001
ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, West Side, Feature Article, December 29, 2001
Feature article, FOCUS SANTA FE Magazine October, 2000
Feature article, ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL-Arts & Culture November 15, 1998
Article, ART TALK PUBLICATION, August/September, 1998
CORRALES COMMENT, Visual Arts, January, 1995.
Feature Article, ALBUQUERQUE TRIBUNE OPTIONS, March, 1992
Feature Article, INTERNATIONAL FINE ART COLLECTOR MAGAZINE,
November, 1991
Feature Article, THE SANTA FEAN MAGAZINE, 1990
Article, ART TALK PUBLICATION, March, 1990
Article, ART TALK PUBLICATION, August/September, 1998
Southwest Art Magazine, Feature Article, July, 1989
Take Five Magazine, Feature article and cover, 1986.

Additionally there are three museums which contain Arturo's work in
their permanent collections:

ELLA COAROTHERS DUNNEGAN MUSEUM, Bolivar, Missouri.
MILLICENT ROGERS MUSEUM, Taos, NM
MADI MUSEUM, Gyor, (Budapest) Hungary

Chavez resides and paints in Placitas, New Mexico with his wife Jennifer and their son Benjamin.

Reference: ArturoChavez.com, PlacitasArtists.com

Arturo Chávez, b. 1949, Taos, NM, (United States)

Raised amid the spectacular vistas of Northern New Mexico, Chavez is dedicated to preserving the western landscape by painting it. Chávez painted throughout his youth, but did not turn to art as a full-time career until the 1980s. Like many gifted artists, Chávez is a talented musician--he studied classical concert guitar at the University of New Mexico. He also was a mission pilot for the Civil Air Patrol, which is the civilian branch of the U.S. Air Force with special training in rugged mountain search and rescue.

In his artistic process, Chávez uses a combination of on location studies coupled with compositional drawings and intermediate painting studies he creates in his studio to arrive at a finished painting.

Education
• University of New Mexico, Music Studies Concert Classical Guitar. 1971-1973

Selected Solo Exhibitions
• "Western Vistas", Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe New Mexico

Selected Group Exhibitions
• *2008 Eiteljorg Museum of the American West, Indianapolis, IN
• Oil Painters of America Group Exhibition- Chicago, IL
• Pasadena Museum of Art, California Art Club-94th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition

Selected Press
• KMNE (PBS), Emmy Nominated "Landscapes of Enchantment"
• Western Art Collector, "As the Crow Flies" November, 2012
• Western Art Collector, "Solitary Pursuits" July, 2012
• Art of the West, "Painting the Magic" May/June 2011
• Western Art Collector, December, 2008
• Albuquerque Journal, Feature Article Arts , August, 2008
• Southwest Art, December, 2002
• Focus Santa Fe, June/July 2002
• Tradicion Revista, Fall 2001
• International Fine Art Collector, November, 1991

Notable Public Collections
• US Embassies in Moscow, Croatia and Guyana
• UNM Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM
• University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
• New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
• Bernalillo County Courthouse, Albuquerque, NM
• Capitol, Santa Fe, NM
• National Guard, Taos, NM
• National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM
• The Millicent Rogers Museum, Taos, NM
• Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ
• Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis IN

Notable Private Collections
• Peabody Energy Corporation St. Louis, MO
• Ebner International Linz, Austria
• Fuji Electric, Shinagawa, TKY, Japan
• Burlington Northern Railway, Fort Worth, TX
• Westin Kierland Resort, Scottsdale, AZ

Awards
• 2011 Phoenix Art Museum, West Select, Purchase Award, Phoenix, AZ
• 2010 Eiteljorg Museum of the American West, Purchase Award, Indianapolis, IN
• 2009 Eiteljorg Museum of the American West, Best of Show, Indianapolis, IN
• 2007 Hubbard Museum of the American West, Western Artists of America, Best of Show and Gold Medal Awards
• 2006 Hubbard Museum of the American West, Western Artists of America, Best of Show
• 2000-2010 Clovis Community College New Mexico Art in Public Places, Acclaimed Artist Series, 6 Purchase Award, Clovis, NM
• 2005 National Park Service, Arts for the Parks, Bronze Medal Award