KEITH DAVIS (b. 1955) Keith Davis, a self-taught artist, began his love for producing art after a serious illness at the young age of nine. Walking down the corridors of the hospital, Davis was fascinated by the hanging oil portraits of doctors, amazed to see how a photorealistic image can be produced through paint. The young artist began to paint on his own.Over time, Davis has developed his own style, finding inspiration in contemporary artists like David Bates and Jon Flaming, old masters including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, and Texas regionalists such as Otis Dozier and Jerry Bywaters.Davis collects subject matter from his daily life, often mixing in a little pop culture and quite a bit of imagination. His creative process begins with photos found on the Internet, especially the imagery with a folk art focus. For inspiration derived from his surroundings, Davis is continually drawn to the western Texas landscape of his youth and its spacious flatlands, stating that he loves how “free” it appears. He is also inspired by the beautiful hill country, especially in its parallel appearance and uniqueness relative to his native western flatlands.The artist’s oeuvre includes polychromed-wood sculptures which depict the various creatures that inhabit the Texas environment. For Davis, making art is a rewarding career and he continues to produce paintings and sculptures in his Austin studio. Selected Biographical and Career Highlights1955 Born in Lubbock, Texas1974–76 South Plains Junior College, Levelland2007–present, Artist in Residence, Austin Visual Arts Association, Austin2014 Finalist, Hunting Art Prize2014 Featured on the Texas Country ReporterResides in Austin, Texas Selected Exhibitions2008 Cowboy Love and a Bouquet of Flowers, San Ángelo Folk Art Gallery, San Antonio2008–14 Annual exhibition, The Texas Aesthetic, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston2012 Restless Heart: Contemporary Texas Regionalism, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo2013 A Tribute to Texas Rivers, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston2013 Celebrating the Regionalist Legacy in Texas Art, William Reaves Fine Art in conjunction with the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, Gage Hotel, Marathon2013 Hill Country Love Affair, William Reaves Fine Art, Houston2013 Holidays at the Haley, Haley Memorial Library, Midland2014 Hunting Art Prize Exhibition, Houston2014 Painting in the Texas Tradition: Contemporary Texas Regionalism, Turner House, Dallas2015 Painting in the Texas Tradition: Contemporary Texas Regionalism, Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Spring2015 Ties that Bind: Contemporary Texas Regionalism, Turner House, Dallas Selected Public CollectionsBriscoe Museum of Western Art, San Antonio