Lorenzo Chavez – Artist Biography Lorenzo Chavez (born 1959) is a contemporary American landscape painter working in oil and pastel who captures the distinctive terrain of the American West and Southwest. His artistic practice connects to the traditions of the Taos Society of Artists and American Impressionism, interpreting Western landscapes with a focus on their timeless qualities, natural textures, colors, and light conditions. Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Chavez comes from a family with roots in the region dating to the 1600s. This multi-generational connection profoundly shapes his artistic perspective. He received formal training at the Colorado Institute of Art, graduating with honors in 1983, and later studied at the Art Students League of Denver. Plein air painting forms the foundation of Chavez's process, enabling direct engagement with the landscapes that inspire him. He maintains an active career balancing painting and teaching, conducting workshops nationwide since 1993. Chavez is represented by select galleries across the United States including Abend Gallery, and his work appears in private and corporate collections nationally and internationally. Lorenzo Chavez – Curriculum Vitae EDUCATION Colorado Institute of Art, BFA with Honors in Fine Arts, 1983 PRESS Why Outdoors? | Pastel Society of the West Coast – We. Are. Pastelists. | June 2025 In this feature, Lorenzo Chavez reflects on the importance of plein air painting and shares 10 practical tips for experiencing nature through pastels. His contribution emphasizes the transformative power of painting outdoors and the vital role preparation plays in deepening artistic engagement with the landscape. Meet Lorenzo Chavez | Shoutout Colorado | April, 2025 Art Assignment: Relocate Your Senses | Outdoor Painter | January, 2025 Painter Lorenzo Chavez marks 4 decades in his peaceful "Western" | The Denver Gazette | February, 2024 Wandering the Colorado Plateau | Art of the West |January 2023 Embracing the Wonder (Downloadable PDF) | Plein Air Magazine, April/May, 2023 | Courtesy of Plein Air Magazine Meet Lorenzo Chavez | Canvas Rebel | April, 2023 Arranging your Palette for Pastel Artists with Lorenzo Chavez | Paint and Clay Podcast | June, 2022 Interviews with the Masters: Lorenzo Chavez / Mastering Plein Air | April, 2022 - An interview with Lorenzo Chavez on YouTube. Meet Lorenzo Chavez | Shoutout Colorado | October, 2021 Lorenzo Chavez – Plein Air Painter of the American West | How to Pastel | July, 2021 A Deepening Sense of Place | Southwest Art Magazine, January 2021 Artist Profile, Lorenzo Chávez | The Artist's Road Featured Artist… Lorenzo Chavez! | Art Food Home | March 2013 Painting Among the Jackhammers: How an Artist Works Through the $3.5 Million Renovation of the Parker Schoolhouse | The Denver Post | October, 2011 Lorenzo Chávez | Below the Surface | Southwest Art Magazine, March 2011 PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS California Art Club (CAC), Signature Member American Impressionist Society (AIS), Signature Member Pastel Society of Spain, Member Pastel Society of France, Member Plein Air Painters of Colorado, Master Signature Member SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2024, "A Road Less Traveled," Abend Gallery, Denver, CO 1996, One-Man Show, C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, MT NOTABLE EXHIBITION LOCATIONS C. M. Russell Museum Pastel Society of Spain Pastel Society of France Artists of America Show in Denver Rims to Ruins Exhibition Plein Air Painters of America Buffalo Bill Center for the West Albuquerque Art Museum Maynard Dixon Country 100 Gold Medal Exhibition at The Pasadena Art Museum The Brinton Museum Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Coors Show in Denver Butler Art Museum Laguna Art Museum Gilcrease Museum Steamboat Art Museum Cape Cod Art Museum GALLERY REPRESENTATION Represented by select galleries across the United States including Abend Gallery COLLECTIONS Lorenzo Chavez's work is included in numerous private and corporate collections nationally and internationally. TEACHING EXPERIENCE Nationally known fine art instructor since 1993, conducting workshops across the United States. Affiliated instructor with the Art Students League of Denver.