About the Artist
Artist Statement
A dedicated search for Truth, Virtue, and Beauty motivates my personal life and my professional work at the easel. Much of my artwork is beauty for beauty’s sake—which I think is a wonderful motivation for the artist, but there's more to it than that. I also feel strongly drawn to the notion of using images as metaphor, searching for truth through visual narrative. A road, for example, can signify the adversities and adventures of life’s journey; a book, the reminder to seek knowledge; a house, the love of family and personal roots. Some images are a little further “out there” like in the painting “What You Must Know,” where I figuratively portray the disastrous consequences of unrecognized or ignored problems.
An undercurrent of spiritual and emotional inquiry surfaces in my work. Christ’s teachings have influenced my life as have the writings of early Greek and Roman philosophers- especially the “Stoics.” I am drawn to the writings of people like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus for their pursuit of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance- truths and virtues worth seeking.
Sharing deeply personal thoughts has its challenges. Normally, I would not presume to subject innocent bystanders to “what is Ken thinking?” but since you are on this site by your own choice, I suppose you can handle it… you brave soul:) Through painting, I am able to reflect on life and use a visual vocabulary to speak the thoughts of my heart. In a sense, my work is a dialogue about what is meaningful in life. I bring something to the conversation, and so do you- the viewer. I present a story, you complete it. I certainly don’t claim to be an authority on the human condition, but I do believe life is a miracle and that there is meaning and purpose to it.
Perhaps middle age has caused me to wonder what constitutes a valid contribution to the world or maybe it is part of my emotional evolution of wanting to bring something positive to counterbalance the negative in life. What I have learned over the past 30 years of painting is that beauty has a power all its own, and when harnessed with a meaningful subject and the artist’s intention, it becomes charged in some very special ways.
Ultimately, I hope this work will inspire and enrich my fellow travelers on life’s journey. And so, I offer my artwork and observations in the hope that it may add something to your life and contribute in some small way to the Truth, Virtue, and Beauty in our world.
-J Ken Spencer
J. Ken Spencer
Curriculum Vitae
Education
1993 Bachelor's Degree, Illustration, Utah State University
Awards and Honors
2022 1st Place, BoldBrush Painting Competition- May
2021 Honorable Mention, 22nd Annual National Juried Exhibition, American Impressionist Society, Gallery 1516, Omaha, NE
2021 First Place, Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2020 First Place, American Impressionist Society Juried Online Exhibition
2020 3rd Place, BoldBrush Painting Competition- March
2019 Finalist, Art Renewal Center Salon
2019 Honorable Mention-Landscape, 28th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George, UT
2019 Best of Show, BoldBrush Painting Competition- February
2019 Honorable Mention, 11th International Art Competition, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, UT
2018 Gold Medal, Oil Painters of America Salon, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Traverse City, MI
2017 Award of Merit, American Impressionist Society National, Montgomery-Lee Fine Art, Park City, UT
2016 Boseker Award, Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, Laguna Beach, CA
2016 Award of Excellence, Salon Show Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Castle Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN
2015 Award of Excellence, Virtuosos of the OPA, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2015 First Place, Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2015 Randall Lake Purchase Award, Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2013 Honorable Mention- Figurative, 22nd Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Oil Painters of America, InSight Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX
2013 Artist’s Choice Award, Driggs Digs Plein Air, Driggs, ID
2013 Merit Award, Inspirational Art Association, Salt Lake City, UT
2012 Honorable Mention for Artistic Excellence, Salon International
2012 First Place, Inspirational Art Association, Thanksgiving Point, UT
2006 Best of Show, Best and Brightest Exhibition, Scottsdale Artists School, AZ
2004 William Schneider Award of Excellence, 13th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America
Selected Exhibitions
2025 Coors Western Art Exhibit, National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO
2024 25th Annual National Juried Exhibition, American Impressionist Society, Rockport Art Museum, Rockport, MA
2024 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Phippen Museum, Prescott, AZ
2024 100th Annual Spring Salon, Springville Art Museum, Springville, UT
2024 ARTidaho- 13th Biennial Juried Competition, Art Museum of Eastern Idaho, Idaho Falls, ID
2024 Coors Western Art Exhibit, National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO
2023 OPA Western Regional Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Brushworks Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT
2023 OPA Masters Show, Oil Painters of America, Illume Gallery West, Philipsburg, MT
2023 24th Annual National Juried Exhibition, American Impressionist Society, Somerville Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE
2023 99th Annual Spring Salon, Springville Art Museum, Springville, UT
2023 32nd Annual National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, SC
2023 Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, Denver, CO
2022 23rd Annual National Juried Exhibition, American Impressionist Society, Mary Williams Fine Art, Boulder, CO
2022 2022 Western Regional Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Southwest Gallery, Dallas, TX
2022 6th Annual Small Works Showcase, American Impressionist Society, Wilder Nightingale Fine Art, Taos, NM
2022 31st Annual National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Steamboat Springs Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
2022 98th Annual Spring Salon, Springville Art Museum, Springville, UT
2022 Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, Denver, CO
2021 22nd Annual National Juried Exhibition, American Impressionist Society, Gallery 1516, Omaha, NE
2021 Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2021 30th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, California Center for the Arts, Escondido, CA
2021 Small Works Showcase, American Impressionist Society, Reinert Fine Art, Charleston, SC
2021 Sears Dixie Invitational, Dixie State University, St. George, UT
2020 Fall Show: J Ken Spencer, Michael T David, Ed Hatch, Abigail McBride, Berkley Gallery, Warrington, VA
2020 American Impressionist Society Juried Online Exhibition
2020 Western Regional Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George, UT
2020 21st Annual American Impressionist Society Juried Exhibition, Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George, UT
2020 Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2020 Salon Show Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Oil Painters of America
2020 Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, Denver, CO
2019 14th International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center
2019 BoldBrush Painting Competition
2019 Western Regional Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Sorrel Sky Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2019 20th Annual National Juried Exhibition, American Impressionist Society, Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY
2019 28th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George, UT
2019 Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2019 11th International Art Competition, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, UT
2019 Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale, Denver, CO
2018 19th Annual National Juried Exhibition, American Impressionist Society, Peninsula School of Arts, Fish Creek, WI
2018 Salon Show of Traditional Oils, Oil Painters of America, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Traverse City, MI
2018 20th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, LPAPA, Laguna Beach, CA
2018 Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2018 27th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
2018 2nd Annual Small Works Showcase, American Impressionist Society, Greenwich House Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2018 BoldBrush Painting Competition
2017 18th Annual National Juried Exhibition, American Impressionist Society, Montgomery-Lee Fine Art, Park City, UT
2017 19th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, LPAPA, Laguna Beach, CA
2017 Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2017 Best of America Exhibition, National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society, Castle Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN
2017 26th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Eisele Gallery of Fine Art, Cincinnati, OH
2017 30th Annual Dixie Sears Invitational, Dixie State University, St. George, UT
2016 18th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, LPAPA, Laguna Beach, CA
2016 Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2016 Salon Show Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America, Castle Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN
2015 Virtuosos of the OPA, Oil Painters of American, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2015 Spring City Arts Plein Air Competition, Spring City, UT
2013 22nd Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Oil Painters of America, InSight Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX
2013 Driggs Digs Plein Air, Driggs, ID
2013 JSMB Christmas Season Art Showcase, Inspirational Art Association, Salt Lake City, UT
2012 One Man Show, Brigham Young University- Idaho, Jacob Spori Gallery, Rexburg, ID
2012 Inspirational Art Association Exhibition, Thanksgiving Point, UT
2006 Best and Brightest Exhibition, Scottsdale Artists School, Scottsdale, AZ
2004 Oil Painters of America National Exhibit
2004 13th Annual National Juried Exhibition, Oil Painters of America
1999 National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society
Selected Commissions
Mural installation consisting of five major panels each 12-feet tall. Panels total 72-feet in length. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Paris, France Temple
Major installation, BYU-I Center, Brigham Young University, Rexburg, ID
Major installation, Blackfoot Performing Arts Center, Blackfoot, ID
Numerous private commissions
Selected Collections
Dunnegan Museum, Bolivar, MO
Church History Museum, Salt Lake City, UT
Brigham Young University, Idaho, Rexburg, ID
Zions Bank, Multiple Locations
Signature Member
Oil Painters of America
American Impressionist Society
Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc.
Representation
David Ericson Fine Art, Salt Lake City, UT
Illume Gallery West, Philipsburg, MT
Montgomery Lee Fine Art, Park City, UT
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