Louisa McElwain (American, 1953-2013)

Paintings

What is a Summary of Louisa McElwain’s Artwork, Style, and Background?

Louisa McElwain was a painter renowned for her large-scale landscapes of New Mexico and the Southwest. Her style was characterized by energetic and spontaneous outdoor painting using large knives and brushes. She skillfully captured the changing light, weather, and mood of the land with expressive colors and strokes. Besides her artistry, she was also a musician, poet, environmentalist, and animal lover. McElwain pursued art studies at the University of New Hampshire and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In 1985, she relocated to New Mexico, where she lived on a ranch near Abiquiu.

What Kind of Art Does Louisa McElwain Make?

Louisa McElwain created art that showcased her profound connection and reverence for nature. Her paintings of landscapes were simultaneously realistic and abstract, employing a palette of earth tones and vibrant hues. Working on large canvases, she mounted them on her truck and traveled to various locations for inspiration. Employing a quick and intuitive approach, she responded to the elements and the energy of each place. Her distinctive style involved using knives, brushes, rags, and even her hands to apply thick layers of paint, resulting in a sense of texture and movement in her artworks.

How Did Louisa McElwain Get Started?

Louisa McElwain's artistic journey began during her childhood, influenced by her artist and teacher mother. Growing up in New England, she developed a passion for nature and music, playing the piano, guitar, flute, and harmonica. She was also skilled in writing poems and songs. She pursued art studies at the University of New Hampshire and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, learning from prominent artists such as John Laurent, Lennart Anderson, and George Nick. Her first visit to New Mexico in 1980 left a profound impact, eventually leading her to move to the state in 1985, along with her husband, Michael Bergt, also an artist.

Where Have Louisa McElwain’s Works Been Exhibited?

Louisa McElwain's artworks have been displayed in numerous museums and galleries across the United States. Some notable locations include the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History in Albuquerque, the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, the Tucson Museum of Art in Tucson, the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis, and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole. Her works also find a place in esteemed public and private collections, such as the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe, the Roswell Museum and Art Center in Roswell, the Forbes Collection in New York, the Autry National Center in Los Angeles, and the Anschutz Collection in Denver.

Who Influenced Louisa McElwain’s Style?

Louisa McElwain's style was influenced by a diverse array of artists and movements. Among those who inspired her were Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet, and Georgia O'Keeffe. Additionally, her artistic approach was shaped by artists like Richard Diebenkorn, Willem de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler, as well as artistic movements such as Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Abstract Expressionism, and Color Field Painting. She also held admiration for her contemporaries, including Wolf Kahn, Ray Vinella, R.C. Gorman, Gustavo Victor Goler, and Dan Namingha.