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BIOGRAPHY

Kenn Erroll Backhaus Born 1951

Kenn was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and spent much of his childhood on the family farm near Burnett, Wisconsin.  His fondness for nature became the catalyst for his art.  Kenn’s parents encouraged his artistic education and following High School, he attended Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  As a commercial designer and illustrator Kenn received many awards at both local and national levels, which included acceptance in the 30th Annual Society of Illustrators Show in New York City.  Although Kenn took pride in his commercial successes, his heart always belonged to the fine art of outdoor painting.

With his developing interest in the historic traditions of plein air painting, Kenn decided in 1984, to devote more time to his passion for painting and the love of the outdoors.  He found that capturing true color, value, atmosphere and the mood of a subject was best done on location or through direct observation.  He has also discovered the importance of his studio time in union with his outdoor experiences and enjoys the challenges of both. His passion for painting has broadened his subject matter to include not only landscape, but also figurative, portrait, still life and nature. When asked, Kenn what do you like to paint? His answer; any thing under the sun and moon is fare game.

Kenn has been featured in numerous art publications and books.  His works have been juried into many shows across the country and his paintings have been bestowed with many honors including the prestigious Best of Show, Collectors Choice and Artists Choices awards.  He regularly serves as an Acceptance Juror and Awards Judge for many shows around the country.

In September of 2006 Kenn was filmed, painting up in Alaska as part of a PBS series entitled, “Plein Air, Painting the American Landscape”.  For more information, please visit: www.pleinairamerica.com

EDUCATION

1973	Graduated from Layton School of Art, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

INVITATIONAL AND JURIED MUSEUMS EXHIBITIONS AND GALLERY SHOWS

2011		“Catalina The Wild Side” The Catalina Conservancy, Avalon, CA
2010		“Painting the Poetry of Light” One-Man Show, Travis Gallery, New Hope, PA
2010		“Western Rendezvous of Art Exhibit and Sale” The Northwest Rendezvous Group  Helena, MT
2010		“On-Location with the Plein Air Paintings of America” The Art Association of Jackson Hole, Jackson Hole, WY
2010		“Reflections of Catalina”, The Society for the Advancement of Plein Air Painting, Catalina Island, CA
2010		“Oil Painters of America National Show”, Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
2009		“American Art in Miniature” Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK
2009		“American Artists Abroad” Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2009		“Oil Painters of America National Show”, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2009		“American Legacy-Our National Parks” The Plein Air Painters of America, Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
2009		“Impressions of an American Master” Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA
2009		“International Marine Art Exhibition” Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT
2009		“Western Rendezvous of Art” The Northwest Rendezvous Group, Helena, MT
2009		“The Couse Foundation Show” The Couse Foundation Show, Taos, NM
2008		“American Art in Miniature” Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK
2008		“Celebration of Light”, Plein Air Painters of America, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2008		“Surf & Sand”, Group Exhibit and Sale, Travis Gallery, New Hope, PA
2008		“Northwest Rendezvous Group, Show and Sale” Helena, MT
2008		“2008 Heritage Art Exhibition”, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Irvine, CA
2008		“ European Tradition, American Vision”, Plein Air Painters of America, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD
2008		“Still Life & the Allure of Nature”, Two-Person Show,  Helena Fox Fine Art, Charleston, SC
2007		“American Art in Miniature” Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK
2007		“The Abundant Earth” Group Artist Show, Knowlton Gallery, Lodi, CA
2007		“Through Brush and Written Word” One-man Show, Troika Gallery, Easton, MD
2007		“Sea to Shining Sea” Group Show, Tree’s Place, Orleans, MA
2007		“Twilight and Reverie” Four person show, Tree’s Place, Orleans, MA
2007		The Plein Air Painters of America, “From the Heart”, The Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
2007		“Blossom-Art of Flowers” Susan Kathleen Black Foundation, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston, TX
2006		“Stockton on Canvas” The Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
2006		“Spring Showcase 2006” Michael Hollis Fine Art, Pasadena, CA
2006		“Wild Wild West Plein Air Invitational” Scottsdale, AZ
2006		“Birds in Art 2006 Invitational” Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI
2003-08		“Coastal Splendors” Crystal Cove Invitational Exhibition, Alliance to Rescue Crystal Cove, Crystal Cove, CA
2005		“Six Masters on Cumberland Island” Fraser/Fox Fine Art, Charleston, SC
2005		“American Artists Abroad” The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2005		“Spring Invitational 2005” Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
2005		“Plein-Air Painters of America, 20th Annual Exhibition and Sale, Caesars Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, NV
2004		“Plein Air Color and Light” Plein Air Painters of America, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT
2004		“Coastal Treasures” One-man Show, Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA
2004-08		“Maynard Dixon Country ” Annual Art Show and Sale, Mt. Carmel, UT
2004		“1st Annual Telluride Plein Air Event” Sheridan Arts Foundation, Telluride, CO
2004		“From Sea to Shinning Sea” The Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
2004		“Plein-Air Painters of America, 19th Annual Exhibition and Sale, Caesars Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, NV
2004		Oil Painters of America, National Juried Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2003		“Plein Air from Coast to Coast” Plein Air Painters of America, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT
2003		“Catalina Reunion Show” Society for the Advancement of Plein Air Painting, Avalon, CA
2003		“Impressions with Brush and Eye” One-man Show,  Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA
2003		Oil Painters of America, National Juried Exhibition, Nichols Taos Fine Art Gallery, Taos, NM
2003		“Glories of the Sonoran Desert” PAPA, Desert Caballeros Western Museum,Wickenburg, AZ
2003		“The Allure of Light” The Plein Air Painters of America, Eleanor Bliss Center for the Arts, Steamboat Springs, CO
2003		“Plein Air 2003” Tucson Plein Air Painters’ Society, Inc. Tucson, AZ
2002		“Recent Works” One-man Show, Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA
2002		Oil Painters of America, National Juried Exhibition, Hilligoss Galleries, Chicago, IL
2001		“Recent Works” One-man Show,  Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, CA
2001		“Sierra Pack Trip Show” Pogan Gallery, Lake Tahoe, CA
2000		“Plein Air San Antonio Invitational”, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX
2000		“Holiday Parade”, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX
2003		“American Miniatures”, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2002 2001		“American Miniatures”, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, AZ “American Miniatures”, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2000		“American Miniatures”, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, AZ
1999-07		“Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational”, The Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2000		“Plein-Air Painters of America, Recent Works”, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
1999		“Plein-Air Painters of America, Recent Works”, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2000		“5th Anniversary Gala Celebration”, Galerie Gabrie, Pasadena, CA
2000		“Invitational Show”, Ann Hughes Fine Art, Dallas, TX
1999		“ Art Of the Animal Kingdom IV”, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
1999		“American Plains Artist Invitational Show”, Midland, TX
1999		“Invitational Plein Air Show and Sale”, Tucson, AZ
1999		“Impression-aire Show and Sale”, La Quinta Arts Association, La Quinta, CA
1996-03		The Plein Air Painters of America Sale and Exhibition, Catalina Island, CA
2000		Plein-Air “Spontaneity of the Landscape” Two-Person Show, Art Access Gallery, Columbus, OH
1999		Solo Exhibit, Art Access Gallery, Columbus, OH
1998		Solo Exhibit, Art Access Gallery, Columbus, OH
1997		The Plein Air Painters of America Regional Show, California Heritage Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1997		“Women, the Artist View”, Invitational Show, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
1996	“Beaver Dam Arts Association Invitational Group Show”, Beaver Dam Area Arts Association, Beaver Dam, WI

1995	“En Plein Air Show” Delind Fine Art, Milwaukee, WI
1992	“Gold Room” Invitational Annual Wildlife Show, Easton Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD
1991	“Gold Room” Invitational Annual Wildlife Show, Easton Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD
1990	“Gold Room” Invitational Annual Wildlife Show, Easton Waterfowl Festival, Easton, MD
1990	“Winter in the Midwest” Invitational Six Person Show, West Bend Art Museum, West Bend, WI
1990	“Regional Juried Show” John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Kohler, WI
1988	“American National Miniature Show” Laramie, WY
1987	“American National Miniature Show” Laramie, WY
1986	“Four Person Show” West Bend Art Museum, West Bend, WI

REPRESENTATION

Debra Huse Studio Gallery, Balboa Island, California www.debrahuse.com

Helena Fox Fine Art, Charleston, South Carolina www.helenafoxfineart.com

Travis Gallery, New Hope, Pennsylvania www.travisgallery.com

Troika Gallery, Easton, Maryland www.troikagallery.com The Highlands Art Gallery www.highlandsartgallery.com Stephen O'Brien Jr. Fine Arts, LLC www.americansportingart.com

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Plein-Air Painters of America – Signature Member,  Past President 2000-2001,  www.p-a-p-a.com

Oil Painters of America – Master Signature Member, www.oilpaintersofamerica.com

En Plein Air Masters, www.enpleinairmasters.com

Passport & Palette  –  Artist and Producer, www.passportandpalette.com

PUBLICATIONS/BOOKS/TELEVISION RELEASES

2009 Passport and Palette, Released May-APT Television Series, DVD Series
2007 Plein Air, Painting the American Landscape, PBS Television Series, DVD Series
2006 American Artist, “Workshop For Oil & Acrylic Painters”, Summer Issue.
2004 December, Plein Air Magazine
2004 July, Southwest Art Magazine
2004 June, American Artist Magazine
2004 From Sea to Shining Sea, A Reflection of America, Book
2003 Enchanted Isle, A History of Plein Air Painting in Santa Catalina Island, Book
2002 Spring, Persimmon Hill Magazine
2000 September/October, Wildlife Art Magazine
1997 North Light Books, Best of Wildlife Art, Book

TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS

2004 - 2007 “American Legacy - Our National Parks”, The Plein Air Painters of America, www.smithkramer.com
2009 – 2013 “From Sea to Shining Sea”, The Plein Air Painters of America, www.smithkramer.com

JUROR REQUESTS

Kenn Backhaus has had the honor to serve as both Acceptance Juror and Awards Judge for
several art shows across the country.

 

Home | Artist Statement | Gallery | Events | Representation | Demonstration | Workshops/Seminars | Appearances | Contact | Links