Horse Sense
Curators’ Statement: We all know what everyone thinks of when they think of Kentucky; the horse of course! Horses and horse racing have been a big part of the Bluegrass and life in Kentucky for over 200 years with Lexington right at the beating heart of it all. The intention of this exhibition is to showcase the immense variety of artistic representation that the artists of Kentucky have when it comes to horses. With over 275 submissions from 118 artists we chose what we felt best represented the many varied styles, approaches, and mediums that were given in response to the call.
Please enjoy this collection of outstanding talent from our beloved artist community who call horse country home.
-Barbara Steinrock & Faville Donahue
Please enjoy this collection of outstanding talent from our beloved artist community who call horse country home.
-Barbara Steinrock & Faville Donahue
Participating Artists
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Alex King As a photographer, I have always been fascinated with the details in life, seeking to capture them in a way that adds a cinematic look to the world around us. My passion for photography has taken me to many places, from bustling nightclubs to tranquil rural landscapes, always in search of that perfect shot that captures the essence of a moment. Through my photography, I strive to capture the beauty in the world around us, to draw attention to the small moments that often go unnoticed, and to create images that are both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. My hope is that my work will inspire others to look at the world with fresh eyes and to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us every day.
One of my proudest pieces of work is Contest Moisture, a photo that shows a horse being cooled off by water after a race at Keeneland. In the photo, the horse's eye is in sharp focus, and upon closer inspection, you can see the reflection of the horse trainers in its iris. The bokeh of the scoreboard in the background. The image captures the intensity of the moment, as the exhausted horse is cared for by its handlers, and the attention to detail adds a sense of intimacy to the scene.
Anastasia Murray Curious, grew from experiences Anna has had while living in Kentucky for the past 4 years. She has explored her own sense of curiosity when she first entered Stewart Home and School, taking on classes and work assignments with enthusiasm and she was surrounded by horses on campus every day. Anna primarily focuses her art on horses, although she has painted other animals. She feels compelled to continue painting horses because to her, they embody Kentucky’s beauty and energy. Anna first started painting when she arrived at the Stewart Home and School in 2018. When Anna starts a project, she decides the colors she wants to incorporate, and the feeling she wants to convey. Curious expresses her own curious nature and her positive outlook on life.
Anastasia Murray, originally from Kazakhstan, was adopted at age six by a family from North Carolina. She is deaf and has been educated in programs for students with learning differences. After finishing those programs in 2018, Anna enrolled at Stewart Home & School in Frankfort Kentucky. Art chose Anna when she stayed in on one Saturday afternoon, grabbed her pencil and began drawing. Little did she know, this was the start of something very important to her. Before SHS, Anna had enjoyed sketching and coloring but at SHS, in the art classroom, Anna began painting on canvas and found that art was her calling and a great way to express her feelings, thoughts, and opinions. Anna incorporates bright colors to present happy and positive emotions. She states that never in her life has she felt so loved, appreciated, and accepted. All her gratitude goes to those who have helped her along the way; her parents and her Stewart Home & School family.
C. A. Walton The work is a mixed media technique consisting of a base of flat acrylic colors painted in general shapes that make up the basic image. Shapes are then outlined in black acrylic. Once the surface is dry, one or two coats of black watercolor is applied to the entire surface. When the image is completely dry, a wet brush is then used to pull the black away from the color to leave the texture and shadow that bring the image to life. The inspiration came about while living in eastern Kentucky. The way the coal dust seems to coat almost everything and mutes the color. Yet somehow, the color is also heightened thanks to this effect. The uniqueness comes in the process of using two mediums, yet taking one away at the end to leave the complete image.
Candice McCown Created using a method of dry brushing with oil paint, The Bronco embodies the spirit of the rough and rugged horse. Through her work, Candice McCown will awakening the soul & reach the hearts of those who cherish animals that roam or protect the land.
Charissa Riley Collographs are created by carving into varnished mat board, hand inked, and rolled through a printing press. This plate was inspired by a photograph taken by a friend (used with her permission), and printed in a variety of different inks. After being printed, each was then painted with various watercolor schemes. Each print is unique and take on a completely different feel depending on how they were printed and painted; some realistic, some fun. This rendition of Bluegrass Fed was given life with bright colored watercolors.
Charissa Riley is a high school art teacher in Lexington, Kentucky. She specializes in a variety of media with a focus on watercolor. She draws her inspiration from florals, cityscapes, and a life spent in Kentucky. She is a wife, mother to three young boys, and a member at Centenary Church. Charissa was the People's Choice Award winner in the Paint the Town Exhibition in 2020, was chosen to paint a horse for LexArt's Horse Mania 2022, and has her work featured in stores around central Kentucky.
Chris Weidner A longtime Lexington resident, and Texas native, Chris Weidner brings a sense of humor to his digital art, social media management, and graphic design. With a taste for science fiction and the supernatural, his work suspends reality and opens the door to a world of wonder. Every drawing tells a story frozen in time.
Chris Huestis The Pink Horse, acrylic and mixed media on panel, is part of an ongoing series by Chris Huestis called Paleo-Pop.
Huestis is a local Lexington artist who has participated in many exhibitions locally and nationally. His artwork has received notices in the media as well as won awards. He has taught art at The University of Houston, Eastern Kentucky University, The University of Kentucky College of Architecture and currently at The Bluegrass Community and Technical College. He has earned a BFA in Painting at the University of Illinois and a MFA in Painting at the University of Houston. He has chaired art festivals and was a gallery director in NYC. See Chrishuestisart on Instagram.
Connie Sandusky Sunday Stretch is inspired by my many visits to New Market, England where I'd get up early to watch strings of playful young horses and riders file down to the gallops. It was pure joy to experience this in this unique and historical racing town.
Connie Sandusky is an expressionistic style painter working mainly in acrylics. Less interested in copying what she sees, her work strives to capture the energy of an idea or experience using color, repeating shapes and expressive marks.
Debbie Blair Bold, beautiful colors are an important part of my work! I’m inspired by the vibrant hues of the flora and fauna of the Amazon Rainforest. There are moments when I like to paint with abandon creating colorful, energetic pieces. At other times, when I’m feeling more subdued, I apply softer, more muted colors of nature into my work. I enjoy mixing and blending my own colors as it has a cathartic effect on me.
After winding down a meaningful career in the horse industry (i.e., the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Alltech World Equestrian Games, Washington International Horse Show, among others), Lexington resident Debbie Blair turned her considerable energy to her other passion -- art. As the owner of an Eco-Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon, she takes inspiration from nature and continues to draw ideas from this rich 'rainforest' experience. Her work reflects her experiences as a birder, equestrian, and adventurer. She fearlessly adds color and intensity to whatever she paints. Her primary medium is acrylic. Whether a patchwork stallion or a fiery, windswept tree, Debbie's work is authentically her own. She has traveled internationally for work and play but always calls the Bluegrass home.
Duane Keaton Duane Keaton has been a fan of building and designing with Lego bricks his entire life. He is an avid Lego brick collector and considers himself a true AFOL (adult fan of Lego). After teaching visual art and video production for our local school system for 20 years, he recently retired to launch Green Blanket Media & Design - a place where families and businesses can get all their art needs covered. Though he enjoys creating art through photography, painting, drawing, and video; his favorite medium is Lego brick. He enjoys the challenge of using the bricks to create a large beautiful mosaic and considers it a unique expression of his faith. We are all one piece in a larger, grander picture.
Gary Hansen A thoroughbred race involves a complex cast of both equine and human actors. Rather than focusing on the jockey and thoroughbred stars, the image Supporting Cast redirects the focus to the less glamorous, but vitally important, outriders and their horses. In this case, they are awaiting the racing stars they will accompany onto the track. This photo was taken at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky, in October 2022.
After a lifetime interest in photography, I began pursuing my own work more seriously after retiring from the University of Kentucky and a career in sociology. As a sociologist with a camera, I consider myself a photosociologist who uses photography to document the unique settings in which we live, interact, and collectively create meaning. As such, my images, even when people are absent, reflect human experiences with both social and natural environments. Residing in Lexington, KY, I am a partner in and display work as Two Profs Photography. [email protected]
Gretchen Bainum I’ve been working with tissue paper for about 15 years, ever since I found a drawer full of it in the art room when I started teaching art at our elementary school. Whereas Matisse, in his later years, was said to “draw with scissors”, I like to think I take it a step further and “paint with paper”. This collage, Autumn Maple, was created in a response to an unusually colorful maple tree that grows on the edge of the pasture. I studied it and sketched it for several days, until the leaves began to drop on it, knowing how difficult it would be to capture how spectacular it was. Adding the two dark horses gave me the contrast I wanted, but the hint of green in the upper left corner finally made it acceptable.
I was born and raised in Montana in a family that believed that making art is a valid and powerful way to respond to my experiences in the world, and that has been my most important influence. I have always made art about my life, whether it was raising my children on a farm in Fleming County, teaching at the local elementary school, working with livestock, or working summers for the US Forest Service in Montana. I am mostly self taught and rely heavily on intuition. I have experimented with a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, acrylic, Papier Mâché, computer art, bookmaking, and collage. My current favorite is tissue paper collage.
Hannah Cunningham I am fascinated by the weirdness of existence. Much of my work features creatures that just are. Things that may or may not know they exist. I often use forms from the real world but rework them into something entirely removed from reality. This piece is my interpretation of a horse. A creature that lives in the liminal space between the real and unreal, beauty and grotesquery, melancholy and laughter.
Hannah is an award-winning illustrator and creative director specializing in highly detailed pen and ink work. She often focuses on themes of health and humanity with a sprinkling of humor. Her illustrations are simultaneously moody and playful. She received her BFA in Fine Arts from Miami University and her MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Hazel Martin The wood horse painted with colorful spring flowers is meant to pop off the canvas and it does! The contrast between the saturated floral pattern and the black and white canvas landscape design is what makes this piece so striking. The wood horse shape is evocative of a beautiful spring day, while the painting itself evokes the liveliness of the track.
Her artistic career began as a humble hobby and a pure love of painting after growing up in Lexington and studying art at Morehead State University. Hazel has found success as an artist with her hand made gift business, Hazel Martin Designs, she founded in 2001. For more than two decades, she has painted and sold thousands of hand painted gift items. Vibrant, color rich canvases celebrate her love affair with pattern. Her paintings often feature the wildlife and farm animals surrounding her rural home in Richmond, Ky. Hazel’s paintings capture the energy of places and people he has experienced throughout Kentucky.
Honora Jacob Artwork, like identity, is ever-evolving. For some artists, making art is a way to uncover and sort through personal identities, experiences, and values. These uniquely personal works of art become vessels for viewers to explore their own aspects of self. A space where the personal becomes the universal. At the same time, humans are hardwired to understand and respond to archetypal images in a way that is completely beyond their control. Marketing professionals along with Hollywood studios and playwrights, as far back as Euripides, have long capitalized on this psychology, using it to create inspiring stories and profitable brands.
With a love of narratives and expressions of identity, I create portraits of women. These figures, drawn from a multitude of archetypal inspirations in history, myths, legends and lore, are created with the intent to portray the female as more than a one-persona archetype, but , rather as a blended history of feminine identity that is both autobiographical and universal in nature. For this exhibition’s theme, Horse Sense, I chose to portray Queen Victoria on one of her favorite mounts, Alma. The image was inspired by an original portrait of the Queen aboard Alma by Francis Grant. In the original, the Queen dominates the foreground with a field of riders (most probably courtiers and politicians) clustered in the background. In Hacking Out she savors a few moments of solitude and freedom with Alma.
A native of Texas, Honora Jacob received her B.A. in Communication Arts from the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a career as an advertising art director. Twenty-two years later, a move to Kentucky provided her with time to reflect on her life path where she turned her attention to a career change following her first passion, painting. She returned to university to receive her B.F.A. in Studio Arts at Eastern Kentucky University. After which, she attended the M.F.A. program in Painting at the University of Kentucky.
A return to Texas in 2003, initiated a period of dividing her time between the U.S. and the U.K., where the experience of living as a non-native in the U.K. provided inspiration for her early narrative works. Fast forward to 2018, Ms. Jacob relocated to Kentucky once again, where she currently resides and maintains a full-time studio in Lexington. Ms. Jacob’s current narrative is inspired by the stories of women throughout history from myths, legends and lore, who challenged the prescribed roles for women of their times.
Jennifer Moorhead Spring Pastures reflects the ‘inner spirit’ of my grey horse, Dudley, He stands there in peace with his friend, Tanner close by in the spring pasture. The glowing light reflects off his light coat while vivid colors describe his body. Dudley in peace is looking at me with his knowingness while I admire him in awe. Horses just ‘know’.
As an artist, I have been committed to the art profession all my life. I earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of Maryland to complement my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Western Michigan University. I am a Fine Art Professor, a professional exhibiting artist, and a current member artist at 104 Main Gallery in La Grange, Kentucky. I paint horses, landscapes, and abstracts in acrylics and I am passionate about capturing the interplay of the sensationalism of colors and light from my surroundings.
Julie Payne No books or paper have been harmed in the assembling of this collage. The artist makes use of illustrations from digital copies of ancient texts. Her surreal collages defy easy description, and she refers to them as digilages.
Julie Payne is from Louisville, Kentucky. Her degree in Fine Arts from the Hite Art Institute of the University of Louisville has led her to work in collage, photography, regional art history, book design, curatorial work, and historic preservation.
Julie Warren Conn Several years ago I began creating flora and fauna drawings on granite discs and panels, which were sandblasted into the stone. The process has been used in huge walls architecturally, outdoor pieces, tables, etc. Racing with the Wind would be perfect in an outdoor setting surrounded by flowers.
Katelyn Chanslor My intention as an artist is to produce an accurate form, but also highlight the emotion of the scene. In my commission work, whether I have met the subject or not, I strive to transport the viewer to a wistful time and place. It is always personal yet the result is universal. This painting was inspired by one of my own family photos. It is my father and I riding one of our Arabian horses, Shazam. He was as typically spirited as his breed denotes, so I was never allowed to ride him alone. We children were given a gentle but slow old Rocky Mountain gelding to ride, so anytime I got to go with dad on one of his horses it was the the thrill of the month. My hope is that in this piece, you can find a part of yourself. You can be the little girl with the wind in your face, and strong, safe arms around you. Maybe you’re the strong arms, taking joy in sharing something you love with someone you love. You might even be the horse, chomping at the bit to go faster and wilder as your nature dictates, but knowing you mustn’t because you have an important job to do for the small creatures who love and trust you.
Katelyn Chanslor was born and resides in Cynthiana, Kentucky with her husband and three children. Her interest in art began as soon as she could hold a pencil, constantly raiding her grandmothers printer paper or begging for a fresh 64 piece crayon set. She continued to improve her skills through school, taking every art class a rural high school could provide. She was studying theatre and design at Morehead State University when the loss of both of her sisters in a car accident, followed by a surprise twin pregnancy made finishing school not feasible. Katelyn continued to produce art sporadically through those early years of motherhood, switching from oil paint to acrylic to keep little fingers out of drying pieces, and teaching herself by trial and error to use various mediums and tools for better control. In late 2021, after over a decade of increasing and varied commissions brought by referral from friends and family, she decided to publicly advertise her art with a focus. Since then, she has been regularly providing clients with dreamy illustrations of their loved ones, treasured moments and places. When she is not painting for others, she is inspired by the beauty of her small world, making studies of her menagerie of pets, garden, and the occasional borrowed landscape from Google Earth. Katelyn is a member of the newly formed Boyd’s Station Artist’s Guild in Cynthiana.
Katie Nelson Hesitation was part of a series of horse centered paintings where I used the Zorn Palette, which uses four colors. This painting came at a time when I was transitioning to full time artistry, the title comes from a mix of feelings about the leap.
Lexington transplant, Katie Nelson, has been drawing inspiration from horses and the human figure. Katie has a BA in fine art from Asbury University and is a member of the Creo art guild. She paints in her studio as well as on location at events using oil or acrylic. Katie's style is inspired by impressionism, expressionism, and American realism.
Katlyn Conley I have always loved and drawn inspiration from religious works, especially that of the Catholic Church. Paintings of saints with halos and emotional eyes have always been an intriguing subject matter to me. When I started workshopping this piece, I knew I wanted to incorporate that same regal and moody atmosphere common in the works I grew up admiring.
Katlyn hails from Greenup County, Ky. Graduating from Russell High School with as many art classes as was allowed, she later moved to Lexington to attend the University of Kentucky. With watercolor as her main medium, her main body of work is focused around creating tangible pieces that link her commissioners to their beloved pets and homes. It is this personal connection with memories and emotions that inspires her to create art that is "part of the heart".
Keith Auerbach I have taken many photographs of horses in their landscapes. As I was putting my horse out into the pasture on this afternoon I recognized the sway of his back with the clouds behind him was a landscape itself.
Keith Auerbach, photographer and artist, is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. He is known for his photographic columns in Louisville Eccentric Observer, a city wide newspaper and magazine. Keith has won over 20 National Competitions. Highlights include his book - The Photographic Humor Of Keith Auerbach which won the Book Of The Year Award from the Independent Publishers Association and the International/Lucie Photography Award which is considered an Oscar in the photography world.
Kelly Phelps Kelly Phelps is an American realist painter born in Lexington, Kentucky. Kelly was inspired by the figurative tradition of nineteenth century European painters. She received her Masters from the New York Academy of Art and studied at ateliers who taught the methods of the old masters. Kelly’s works include human figures and wildlife, landscapes, and still life. Her vision is to “sculpt with paint” – that is to paint in such a way that there is not only the illusion of dimension, but genuine depth to the paint itself. Her painting, Big Dreams, honors the beauty of the horse and Kentucky traditions.
Kim Russell Ears Up is a black and white photograph I took in 2020. This close up shot of a horse's ear reminds me that the beauty and majesty of horses can be seen in even the smallest of details.
I fell in love with photography in high school and have been shooting ever since. I can’t help but see the world in photographs and I like that photography lets me capture the snippets of beauty I see all around me. I really enjoy using photography to find that something special in the things that others may not see as beautiful. I specialize in portraits and love capturing what is unique in a person or animal.
Laura Zecchin "And the light reflects onto his white coat, shining bright, right into my heart. A connection. The desire to capture every majestic movement of this incredible soul."
Italian native, I came to the States when I was 19 years old. Married to a retired Army Service Member and mom to 2 big pups and a horse. Even though California had been my home since I moved from Italy, when I visited stunning Kentucky in 2021, I fell in love. So much so that it has now become our other home and I couldn’t be happier with the friendly welcome we received from everyone and the beauty that surrounds us every single day. I was born in a family of artists. By virtue of my family environment I felt a natural vibe to be artistic at a very young age and with no training at all I started developing my own style. I used pencil drawings and writing as a means to convey my thoughts and as I progressed I realized that photography was what I gravitated toward, I felt it was my calling. Most of my photos are in black and white as they remind me of pencil drawings, which retrospectively brings me back to how my interest in art begun. Photography is a passion. I see art in anything that surrounds me. It is merely how it is captured that makes the difference, the emotions it can evoke, and how it can be interpreted by anyone looking at it. “Sharing a vision through Photography” I hope that anyone looking at my work can see what I see, and the emotional connection I have with the subjects I am fortunate to photograph.
Lauren Barker A Pharaoh's Strut, a drawing honoring one of the greats, American Pharaoh, was completed in early 2023. It seeks to capture the strength, beauty, and elegance of a powerful Kentucky legend. This work highlights the artist's love of anatomy and this Triple Crown winner with an emphasis on the stark contrasts in color provided by charcoal.
Lauren Barker is a native of Lexington, KY. She holds a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Kentucky and serves full-time as a pediatric physical therapist in central Kentucky. Another of her passions, however, is working as an artist with a primary emphasis in charcoal as a medium. She is known for her realistic drawings of Kentucky-inspired themes, beloved family pets, and recreating snapshots of family members and special events, including ultrasounds and weddings.
LouRae Stacy Pink and Blue Reflections is a piece composed of brightly-colored acrylic yarn applied to a piece of primary tufting cloth using a tufting machine. This bold illustration portrays a classic silhouette of Kentucky's most beloved symbol with an innocent curiosity. While the antiqued, ornate frame implies a reserved composure, the energetic color palette provides a sharp modern contrast with its boundaries’ restraint.
Operating as Calico Rugs, LouRae is a fiber artist based in Lexington, Kentucky who uses a tufting machine and punch needle to create textile works of art featuring her whimsical and heavily graphic illustrations. Her "fluffy art" typically features saturated, brightly colored acrylic yarn depicting symbols, experiences and otherworldly creatures. She enjoys creating art with a light-hearted approach and a nontraditional medium that encourages the viewer to touch and feel the piece.
Marilyn Sadler It’s always interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes of an event, and this time it was the horse pull at the Bourbon County Fair. Different horses react differently to all the fair activities. One horse tied to a trailer waiting for its turn to pull was becoming increasingly agitated at the sounds of squealing pigs in the next barn, and started jumping up and down; he had to be put back into the trailer for his own safety. Other horses take all the noises in stride. This horse was very relaxed, to the point of looking bored (yawn!).
Artist Marilyn Sadler, who resides in Versailles, Kentucky, was born and raised in Ohio and spent her childhood drawing, painting and riding. She and her husband owned, bred and raced Thoroughbred horses and she became a licensed racehorse trainer. Marilyn’s hands-on horse experience has been instrumental in her ability to understand anatomy for portraying horses. She is a member of the Plein Air Painters of the Bluegrass, an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America, and a Juried Member and Board Member of the American Academy of Equine Art.
Megan Hayden Curiosity was captured after the first significant snow of 2022. On an small adventure around Lexington to capture the beauty of the snowfall I met a friend who was supremely curious about my camera as I was photographing. With the snowy background and the bright and intelligent eyes searching for an answer as to what exactly the camera was, the resultant capture perfectly reflected the beauty of the day. Unintentional experiences often result in the most beautiful captures.
Megan Hayden is a photographer who loves to freeze moments in time and finds joy in sharing the way she sees the world. A transplant to Kentucky, she has now called Lexington home for 20 plus years and can't think of any better place to live. The horses, the hills, the forests, the waterfalls all continually provide food for the soul. She officially began Megan Hayden Photography in June of 2022 and has has work published in several magazines and enjoys sharing her photography online.
Nancy Hall This pastel painting is of my friend's two horses, however they aren't just horses, they are her family. Although they were adopted separately, they immediately became best friends. I was inspired by this photo, I felt that it captured their sweet spirit as they shared a drink. I saw blue reflections in their mane, that I wanted to exaggerate but yet still capture the simplicity of this moment.
I am originally from Buffalo, NY where I studied graphic design. I took a workshop with a local pastel portrait artist and it was then that I fell in love with working with pastels and so passionate and connected to what I paint. Pastels allow me to apply layers of color and shapes to create magic on paper and capture the spirit of my subject. I began painting portraits of people and animals and then landscapes. I am greatly inspired by the pure beauty of nature and the life within.
Olivia Manuel Growing up on a farm, I was surrounded by the vibrant color schemes characteristic of Lexington, Kentucky and developed a strong admiration for nature. I have always enjoyed observing details that are otherwise neglected by the busy eye, and decided to portray this in my painting, Inter Vinos. Although it began as a mere gift to a friend, Inter Vinos soon progressed into a physical representation of my innermost feelings of awe and admiration for the beauty within Kentucky.
As a Kentucky native and law student, I try to portray my observations of life and nature through my artwork. While painting, rather than directly mimicking the image presented to me or altering what I see to appeal to the eye, I focus on accentuating the colors that others might disregard. I apply this method of painting to life's challenges as well. Many problems within a structure can be resolved by directing attention away from the ostensible details. In this way, painting has helped me see beyond what is easily observable.
Ree Wilson This traditional portrait is of a retired thoroughbred. Pastels allow me to draw with color, and are my connection to a childhood of using crayons. Line quality is important to me and I work to find a balance between controlled mark making and the loose and lyrical.
I am a retired chef and have been a serious amateur musician. I treasure my life with my wife and our pets, and wish for nothing more.
Salina Ramsay Every horse breeder anticipates the arrival of the first foal of the season. First Foal is meant to represent the Kentucky tradition of equine husbandry. First Foal was included in Team Kentucky's exhibit, 2022 and was on display in the Kentucky Capitol from January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022.
Salina Ramsay is an artist, designer, and lifelong horsewoman. Ramsay works from her home studio in a variety of mediums, including oil, watercolor, pencil, and carving for lost wax. Beginning in her early twenties, Ramsay had several solo shows in North Carolina and Kentucky. In 2002, Ramsay was featured artist in a Kentucky public television show as part of its Kentucky Life series. In 2010, Ramsay’s 14k gold pin featured prominently in the Secretariat movie. In 2013, Ramsay was made a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Steve Beshear. In 2022, two of Ramsay's works were chosen to hang in the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda during the late Spring and early Summer.
Sandra Leach "The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart." - Helen Keller
I grew up in Germany and moved to the US in 2010. My passion for painting was tucked away for many years and just came back a few years ago, when I was trying to make it through life. Watercolor and ink for me are another form of keeping a diary. My painting never starts with much planning or any commitment of what it should look like at the end. It mostly is influenced by the risk I am taking that day and the reward is the outcome of the painting. What appeals to me are lots of colors and a big splash of flash!
Shelley Hunter This piece showcases that moment at the track, very early in the morning, when all the power and beauty of the horse in full flight, belongs to the horse and rider alone.
Award winning artist Shelley Hunter's paintings and sculpture showcase bold, strong images with lots of action. She looks on art as a lifelong journey and she is a happy traveler in the land of form, color and light.
Stephanie Hilen My goal is to capture the feeling of being fully present in a moment in time. I am mesmerized by the way contrasting colors interact and little details that bring a scene to life. In Betting on Gray, the diffused lighting of the overcast day highlights the brightly colored jockey’s hats and silks. Your eyes then focus to the energy of the main subject in mid-stride flinging mud from the reflective, rain-covered racetrack. Upon zooming out, the soft gray background adds depth to the scene and unifies with the gray horse, then separating the cool gray tones from the warm orange tones. While the gray horse is not leading the pack, evidenced by the sprays of mud dotting their front, we subconsciously cheer them on with hopeful anticipation. They are our underdog.
Stephanie Hilen is a fine artist creating from her home studio in Lexington, Kentucky. With the foundation of a classical visual art education, Stephanie specializes in representation oil paintings that celebrate the beauty of Central Kentucky’s equine culture. Inspired by light, complimentary colors and little details in nature, her style brings a fresh approach to traditional realism. Stephanie’s paintings have found their way into the homes and businesses in Kentucky and across the country, with notable collectors including Claiborne Farm, University of Kentucky Healthcare, and her alma mater Centre College. Available paintings and prints can be found online at www.stephaniehilen.com.
Tessa Habash The painting Just Cheezin' is one of my favorites because it represents a special way horses can communicate with us. The faces of these magnificent creatures are larger than life up close as they "talk" using their smiles and gentle nibbling skills. I believe all creatures can communicate with us on some level. I feel that connection when painting animal and human faces alike. The creatures seem to come alive on the canvas and their likeness keeps me company in my studio. I hope this painting makes you smile as much as it does for me!
Tessa Habash is an artist relatively new to watercolor painting. She and her family have hosted painting and crafting workshops at their flower farm Lavender In Bloom in Georgetown, KY since 2018. She is an optometrist at Advanced Eye Care Center and has an "eye" for detail in all things. Tessa loves the creative expression and relaxation that comes from painting with acrylics and watercolor.
Tracey Sanchez When I paint a horse I love to show movement. Horse and Rider is a great example of that movement using a unique angle. You can almost hear the hooves beating the ground as the horse runs and the swish of the tail. Horses are beautiful when standing still, and they become even more majestic when you see them in motion.
Art has always been an important factor in my life from a young age. I can remember sitting with my grandma drawing, or watching her make beautiful designs on handmade quilts. My passion for art continued through high school where I was able to be a part of the Governor's School for the Arts in the summer of 1996. Once in college I chose a different path for a career in education. Working full-time, being a wife, and mom to two young boys left little time for painting. My art supplies sat collecting dust for many years. When the pandemic hit I found myself, like so many others, spending more time at home looking for ways to pass time. I found an old sketch book and pencils and began to draw just for fun.
The memories of how much I enjoyed art came back to me. Everyday I would either be drawing or painting and it really made my soul come alive in such a difficult time. Although I enjoyed my time in the classroom immensely, after teaching for 18 years I took the leap and pursued my dream of being a full-time artist. It has been an amazing, terrifying, exciting, and hard journey for me as well as my family. I feel that I am doing what I was truly meant to do.
Trey Beckett Horse Portrait was created with watercolor and charcoal on paper. This traditional-like horse portrait is married using a soft watercolor palette with energetic lines and gestures using charcoal.
Trey Beckett is a West Virginia native but has lived in Lexington, Kentucky since 2016. While living in the Bluegrass, he has cultivated a unique artistic aesthetic. His recent work is inspired by photographs of horses, jockeys, and horseman from the 1950's and 1960's. His wife's profession and passion for horse racing has impacted his perspective into the arduous and fearless lifestyle of racing horses. His work actively seeks juxtapositions of traditional horse racing imagery with captivating color palettes and techniques. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Marshall University.
Valtcho Tonov This is one of series of 6 paintings I made exploring the more emotional aspect of painting horses and Kentucky. It's all about the feel you get when you look at horses in the fields covered with mist and the sun it's just breaking in .
Valtcho Tonov is a mostly self-taught artist who was born in, Bulgaria 1972. Always interested in drawing he took art seriously at the age of sixteen when his family relocated to Plovdiv. After moving to the United States in 2001, he soon settled in Louisville, Kentucky. Classically trained to paint the landscape and human figures, Valtcho has continued his studies under the tutelage of renowned contemporary artists and developing his own style . A passionate Plein Air painter he can be seen painting around USA and Europe. He is a member of the Plein Air Painters of KY and the American Impressionist Society. As a full time painter his repertoire includes landscape, still life, abstract, sporting, and figurative subjects . Tonov prefers the Alla Prima approach, painting mostly from life with oil paint, transforming the outdoor studies into bigger paintings in the studio, with attention to expressive brush strokes, light and edges. “Painting is supposed to evoke a feeling, emotional attachment. It’s either the color, composition, edge quality and size regardless if it is an abstract or representational style” Drawing inspiration from Richard Schmidt, Willem de Kooning, Gerhard Richter, Alex Kanevsky and many more. You can see more of his work at www.vptart.com or @valtchotonov on Instagram.
Willard Harrell I told my wife that the name of this painting would be "Practice Horse" because this was my first attempt at horses, however when it was finished it just looked like it was bout to bolt off the canvas thus the name. As a late comer to the equestrian scene I surprised myself, so I went crazy and started a bunch of horse paintings, I was completely shocked when this piece was selected. If it wasn't for the encouragement of my wife none of these paintings would exist. I like to live a peaceful and quiet life, I enjoy golfing and playing guitar.
One of my proudest pieces of work is Contest Moisture, a photo that shows a horse being cooled off by water after a race at Keeneland. In the photo, the horse's eye is in sharp focus, and upon closer inspection, you can see the reflection of the horse trainers in its iris. The bokeh of the scoreboard in the background. The image captures the intensity of the moment, as the exhausted horse is cared for by its handlers, and the attention to detail adds a sense of intimacy to the scene.
Anastasia Murray Curious, grew from experiences Anna has had while living in Kentucky for the past 4 years. She has explored her own sense of curiosity when she first entered Stewart Home and School, taking on classes and work assignments with enthusiasm and she was surrounded by horses on campus every day. Anna primarily focuses her art on horses, although she has painted other animals. She feels compelled to continue painting horses because to her, they embody Kentucky’s beauty and energy. Anna first started painting when she arrived at the Stewart Home and School in 2018. When Anna starts a project, she decides the colors she wants to incorporate, and the feeling she wants to convey. Curious expresses her own curious nature and her positive outlook on life.
Anastasia Murray, originally from Kazakhstan, was adopted at age six by a family from North Carolina. She is deaf and has been educated in programs for students with learning differences. After finishing those programs in 2018, Anna enrolled at Stewart Home & School in Frankfort Kentucky. Art chose Anna when she stayed in on one Saturday afternoon, grabbed her pencil and began drawing. Little did she know, this was the start of something very important to her. Before SHS, Anna had enjoyed sketching and coloring but at SHS, in the art classroom, Anna began painting on canvas and found that art was her calling and a great way to express her feelings, thoughts, and opinions. Anna incorporates bright colors to present happy and positive emotions. She states that never in her life has she felt so loved, appreciated, and accepted. All her gratitude goes to those who have helped her along the way; her parents and her Stewart Home & School family.
C. A. Walton The work is a mixed media technique consisting of a base of flat acrylic colors painted in general shapes that make up the basic image. Shapes are then outlined in black acrylic. Once the surface is dry, one or two coats of black watercolor is applied to the entire surface. When the image is completely dry, a wet brush is then used to pull the black away from the color to leave the texture and shadow that bring the image to life. The inspiration came about while living in eastern Kentucky. The way the coal dust seems to coat almost everything and mutes the color. Yet somehow, the color is also heightened thanks to this effect. The uniqueness comes in the process of using two mediums, yet taking one away at the end to leave the complete image.
Candice McCown Created using a method of dry brushing with oil paint, The Bronco embodies the spirit of the rough and rugged horse. Through her work, Candice McCown will awakening the soul & reach the hearts of those who cherish animals that roam or protect the land.
Charissa Riley Collographs are created by carving into varnished mat board, hand inked, and rolled through a printing press. This plate was inspired by a photograph taken by a friend (used with her permission), and printed in a variety of different inks. After being printed, each was then painted with various watercolor schemes. Each print is unique and take on a completely different feel depending on how they were printed and painted; some realistic, some fun. This rendition of Bluegrass Fed was given life with bright colored watercolors.
Charissa Riley is a high school art teacher in Lexington, Kentucky. She specializes in a variety of media with a focus on watercolor. She draws her inspiration from florals, cityscapes, and a life spent in Kentucky. She is a wife, mother to three young boys, and a member at Centenary Church. Charissa was the People's Choice Award winner in the Paint the Town Exhibition in 2020, was chosen to paint a horse for LexArt's Horse Mania 2022, and has her work featured in stores around central Kentucky.
Chris Weidner A longtime Lexington resident, and Texas native, Chris Weidner brings a sense of humor to his digital art, social media management, and graphic design. With a taste for science fiction and the supernatural, his work suspends reality and opens the door to a world of wonder. Every drawing tells a story frozen in time.
Chris Huestis The Pink Horse, acrylic and mixed media on panel, is part of an ongoing series by Chris Huestis called Paleo-Pop.
Huestis is a local Lexington artist who has participated in many exhibitions locally and nationally. His artwork has received notices in the media as well as won awards. He has taught art at The University of Houston, Eastern Kentucky University, The University of Kentucky College of Architecture and currently at The Bluegrass Community and Technical College. He has earned a BFA in Painting at the University of Illinois and a MFA in Painting at the University of Houston. He has chaired art festivals and was a gallery director in NYC. See Chrishuestisart on Instagram.
Connie Sandusky Sunday Stretch is inspired by my many visits to New Market, England where I'd get up early to watch strings of playful young horses and riders file down to the gallops. It was pure joy to experience this in this unique and historical racing town.
Connie Sandusky is an expressionistic style painter working mainly in acrylics. Less interested in copying what she sees, her work strives to capture the energy of an idea or experience using color, repeating shapes and expressive marks.
Debbie Blair Bold, beautiful colors are an important part of my work! I’m inspired by the vibrant hues of the flora and fauna of the Amazon Rainforest. There are moments when I like to paint with abandon creating colorful, energetic pieces. At other times, when I’m feeling more subdued, I apply softer, more muted colors of nature into my work. I enjoy mixing and blending my own colors as it has a cathartic effect on me.
After winding down a meaningful career in the horse industry (i.e., the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Alltech World Equestrian Games, Washington International Horse Show, among others), Lexington resident Debbie Blair turned her considerable energy to her other passion -- art. As the owner of an Eco-Lodge in the Peruvian Amazon, she takes inspiration from nature and continues to draw ideas from this rich 'rainforest' experience. Her work reflects her experiences as a birder, equestrian, and adventurer. She fearlessly adds color and intensity to whatever she paints. Her primary medium is acrylic. Whether a patchwork stallion or a fiery, windswept tree, Debbie's work is authentically her own. She has traveled internationally for work and play but always calls the Bluegrass home.
Duane Keaton Duane Keaton has been a fan of building and designing with Lego bricks his entire life. He is an avid Lego brick collector and considers himself a true AFOL (adult fan of Lego). After teaching visual art and video production for our local school system for 20 years, he recently retired to launch Green Blanket Media & Design - a place where families and businesses can get all their art needs covered. Though he enjoys creating art through photography, painting, drawing, and video; his favorite medium is Lego brick. He enjoys the challenge of using the bricks to create a large beautiful mosaic and considers it a unique expression of his faith. We are all one piece in a larger, grander picture.
Gary Hansen A thoroughbred race involves a complex cast of both equine and human actors. Rather than focusing on the jockey and thoroughbred stars, the image Supporting Cast redirects the focus to the less glamorous, but vitally important, outriders and their horses. In this case, they are awaiting the racing stars they will accompany onto the track. This photo was taken at Keeneland Race Course, Lexington, Kentucky, in October 2022.
After a lifetime interest in photography, I began pursuing my own work more seriously after retiring from the University of Kentucky and a career in sociology. As a sociologist with a camera, I consider myself a photosociologist who uses photography to document the unique settings in which we live, interact, and collectively create meaning. As such, my images, even when people are absent, reflect human experiences with both social and natural environments. Residing in Lexington, KY, I am a partner in and display work as Two Profs Photography. [email protected]
Gretchen Bainum I’ve been working with tissue paper for about 15 years, ever since I found a drawer full of it in the art room when I started teaching art at our elementary school. Whereas Matisse, in his later years, was said to “draw with scissors”, I like to think I take it a step further and “paint with paper”. This collage, Autumn Maple, was created in a response to an unusually colorful maple tree that grows on the edge of the pasture. I studied it and sketched it for several days, until the leaves began to drop on it, knowing how difficult it would be to capture how spectacular it was. Adding the two dark horses gave me the contrast I wanted, but the hint of green in the upper left corner finally made it acceptable.
I was born and raised in Montana in a family that believed that making art is a valid and powerful way to respond to my experiences in the world, and that has been my most important influence. I have always made art about my life, whether it was raising my children on a farm in Fleming County, teaching at the local elementary school, working with livestock, or working summers for the US Forest Service in Montana. I am mostly self taught and rely heavily on intuition. I have experimented with a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, acrylic, Papier Mâché, computer art, bookmaking, and collage. My current favorite is tissue paper collage.
Hannah Cunningham I am fascinated by the weirdness of existence. Much of my work features creatures that just are. Things that may or may not know they exist. I often use forms from the real world but rework them into something entirely removed from reality. This piece is my interpretation of a horse. A creature that lives in the liminal space between the real and unreal, beauty and grotesquery, melancholy and laughter.
Hannah is an award-winning illustrator and creative director specializing in highly detailed pen and ink work. She often focuses on themes of health and humanity with a sprinkling of humor. Her illustrations are simultaneously moody and playful. She received her BFA in Fine Arts from Miami University and her MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Hazel Martin The wood horse painted with colorful spring flowers is meant to pop off the canvas and it does! The contrast between the saturated floral pattern and the black and white canvas landscape design is what makes this piece so striking. The wood horse shape is evocative of a beautiful spring day, while the painting itself evokes the liveliness of the track.
Her artistic career began as a humble hobby and a pure love of painting after growing up in Lexington and studying art at Morehead State University. Hazel has found success as an artist with her hand made gift business, Hazel Martin Designs, she founded in 2001. For more than two decades, she has painted and sold thousands of hand painted gift items. Vibrant, color rich canvases celebrate her love affair with pattern. Her paintings often feature the wildlife and farm animals surrounding her rural home in Richmond, Ky. Hazel’s paintings capture the energy of places and people he has experienced throughout Kentucky.
Honora Jacob Artwork, like identity, is ever-evolving. For some artists, making art is a way to uncover and sort through personal identities, experiences, and values. These uniquely personal works of art become vessels for viewers to explore their own aspects of self. A space where the personal becomes the universal. At the same time, humans are hardwired to understand and respond to archetypal images in a way that is completely beyond their control. Marketing professionals along with Hollywood studios and playwrights, as far back as Euripides, have long capitalized on this psychology, using it to create inspiring stories and profitable brands.
With a love of narratives and expressions of identity, I create portraits of women. These figures, drawn from a multitude of archetypal inspirations in history, myths, legends and lore, are created with the intent to portray the female as more than a one-persona archetype, but , rather as a blended history of feminine identity that is both autobiographical and universal in nature. For this exhibition’s theme, Horse Sense, I chose to portray Queen Victoria on one of her favorite mounts, Alma. The image was inspired by an original portrait of the Queen aboard Alma by Francis Grant. In the original, the Queen dominates the foreground with a field of riders (most probably courtiers and politicians) clustered in the background. In Hacking Out she savors a few moments of solitude and freedom with Alma.
A native of Texas, Honora Jacob received her B.A. in Communication Arts from the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a career as an advertising art director. Twenty-two years later, a move to Kentucky provided her with time to reflect on her life path where she turned her attention to a career change following her first passion, painting. She returned to university to receive her B.F.A. in Studio Arts at Eastern Kentucky University. After which, she attended the M.F.A. program in Painting at the University of Kentucky.
A return to Texas in 2003, initiated a period of dividing her time between the U.S. and the U.K., where the experience of living as a non-native in the U.K. provided inspiration for her early narrative works. Fast forward to 2018, Ms. Jacob relocated to Kentucky once again, where she currently resides and maintains a full-time studio in Lexington. Ms. Jacob’s current narrative is inspired by the stories of women throughout history from myths, legends and lore, who challenged the prescribed roles for women of their times.
Jennifer Moorhead Spring Pastures reflects the ‘inner spirit’ of my grey horse, Dudley, He stands there in peace with his friend, Tanner close by in the spring pasture. The glowing light reflects off his light coat while vivid colors describe his body. Dudley in peace is looking at me with his knowingness while I admire him in awe. Horses just ‘know’.
As an artist, I have been committed to the art profession all my life. I earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of Maryland to complement my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Western Michigan University. I am a Fine Art Professor, a professional exhibiting artist, and a current member artist at 104 Main Gallery in La Grange, Kentucky. I paint horses, landscapes, and abstracts in acrylics and I am passionate about capturing the interplay of the sensationalism of colors and light from my surroundings.
Julie Payne No books or paper have been harmed in the assembling of this collage. The artist makes use of illustrations from digital copies of ancient texts. Her surreal collages defy easy description, and she refers to them as digilages.
Julie Payne is from Louisville, Kentucky. Her degree in Fine Arts from the Hite Art Institute of the University of Louisville has led her to work in collage, photography, regional art history, book design, curatorial work, and historic preservation.
Julie Warren Conn Several years ago I began creating flora and fauna drawings on granite discs and panels, which were sandblasted into the stone. The process has been used in huge walls architecturally, outdoor pieces, tables, etc. Racing with the Wind would be perfect in an outdoor setting surrounded by flowers.
Katelyn Chanslor My intention as an artist is to produce an accurate form, but also highlight the emotion of the scene. In my commission work, whether I have met the subject or not, I strive to transport the viewer to a wistful time and place. It is always personal yet the result is universal. This painting was inspired by one of my own family photos. It is my father and I riding one of our Arabian horses, Shazam. He was as typically spirited as his breed denotes, so I was never allowed to ride him alone. We children were given a gentle but slow old Rocky Mountain gelding to ride, so anytime I got to go with dad on one of his horses it was the the thrill of the month. My hope is that in this piece, you can find a part of yourself. You can be the little girl with the wind in your face, and strong, safe arms around you. Maybe you’re the strong arms, taking joy in sharing something you love with someone you love. You might even be the horse, chomping at the bit to go faster and wilder as your nature dictates, but knowing you mustn’t because you have an important job to do for the small creatures who love and trust you.
Katelyn Chanslor was born and resides in Cynthiana, Kentucky with her husband and three children. Her interest in art began as soon as she could hold a pencil, constantly raiding her grandmothers printer paper or begging for a fresh 64 piece crayon set. She continued to improve her skills through school, taking every art class a rural high school could provide. She was studying theatre and design at Morehead State University when the loss of both of her sisters in a car accident, followed by a surprise twin pregnancy made finishing school not feasible. Katelyn continued to produce art sporadically through those early years of motherhood, switching from oil paint to acrylic to keep little fingers out of drying pieces, and teaching herself by trial and error to use various mediums and tools for better control. In late 2021, after over a decade of increasing and varied commissions brought by referral from friends and family, she decided to publicly advertise her art with a focus. Since then, she has been regularly providing clients with dreamy illustrations of their loved ones, treasured moments and places. When she is not painting for others, she is inspired by the beauty of her small world, making studies of her menagerie of pets, garden, and the occasional borrowed landscape from Google Earth. Katelyn is a member of the newly formed Boyd’s Station Artist’s Guild in Cynthiana.
Katie Nelson Hesitation was part of a series of horse centered paintings where I used the Zorn Palette, which uses four colors. This painting came at a time when I was transitioning to full time artistry, the title comes from a mix of feelings about the leap.
Lexington transplant, Katie Nelson, has been drawing inspiration from horses and the human figure. Katie has a BA in fine art from Asbury University and is a member of the Creo art guild. She paints in her studio as well as on location at events using oil or acrylic. Katie's style is inspired by impressionism, expressionism, and American realism.
Katlyn Conley I have always loved and drawn inspiration from religious works, especially that of the Catholic Church. Paintings of saints with halos and emotional eyes have always been an intriguing subject matter to me. When I started workshopping this piece, I knew I wanted to incorporate that same regal and moody atmosphere common in the works I grew up admiring.
Katlyn hails from Greenup County, Ky. Graduating from Russell High School with as many art classes as was allowed, she later moved to Lexington to attend the University of Kentucky. With watercolor as her main medium, her main body of work is focused around creating tangible pieces that link her commissioners to their beloved pets and homes. It is this personal connection with memories and emotions that inspires her to create art that is "part of the heart".
Keith Auerbach I have taken many photographs of horses in their landscapes. As I was putting my horse out into the pasture on this afternoon I recognized the sway of his back with the clouds behind him was a landscape itself.
Keith Auerbach, photographer and artist, is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. He is known for his photographic columns in Louisville Eccentric Observer, a city wide newspaper and magazine. Keith has won over 20 National Competitions. Highlights include his book - The Photographic Humor Of Keith Auerbach which won the Book Of The Year Award from the Independent Publishers Association and the International/Lucie Photography Award which is considered an Oscar in the photography world.
Kelly Phelps Kelly Phelps is an American realist painter born in Lexington, Kentucky. Kelly was inspired by the figurative tradition of nineteenth century European painters. She received her Masters from the New York Academy of Art and studied at ateliers who taught the methods of the old masters. Kelly’s works include human figures and wildlife, landscapes, and still life. Her vision is to “sculpt with paint” – that is to paint in such a way that there is not only the illusion of dimension, but genuine depth to the paint itself. Her painting, Big Dreams, honors the beauty of the horse and Kentucky traditions.
Kim Russell Ears Up is a black and white photograph I took in 2020. This close up shot of a horse's ear reminds me that the beauty and majesty of horses can be seen in even the smallest of details.
I fell in love with photography in high school and have been shooting ever since. I can’t help but see the world in photographs and I like that photography lets me capture the snippets of beauty I see all around me. I really enjoy using photography to find that something special in the things that others may not see as beautiful. I specialize in portraits and love capturing what is unique in a person or animal.
Laura Zecchin "And the light reflects onto his white coat, shining bright, right into my heart. A connection. The desire to capture every majestic movement of this incredible soul."
Italian native, I came to the States when I was 19 years old. Married to a retired Army Service Member and mom to 2 big pups and a horse. Even though California had been my home since I moved from Italy, when I visited stunning Kentucky in 2021, I fell in love. So much so that it has now become our other home and I couldn’t be happier with the friendly welcome we received from everyone and the beauty that surrounds us every single day. I was born in a family of artists. By virtue of my family environment I felt a natural vibe to be artistic at a very young age and with no training at all I started developing my own style. I used pencil drawings and writing as a means to convey my thoughts and as I progressed I realized that photography was what I gravitated toward, I felt it was my calling. Most of my photos are in black and white as they remind me of pencil drawings, which retrospectively brings me back to how my interest in art begun. Photography is a passion. I see art in anything that surrounds me. It is merely how it is captured that makes the difference, the emotions it can evoke, and how it can be interpreted by anyone looking at it. “Sharing a vision through Photography” I hope that anyone looking at my work can see what I see, and the emotional connection I have with the subjects I am fortunate to photograph.
Lauren Barker A Pharaoh's Strut, a drawing honoring one of the greats, American Pharaoh, was completed in early 2023. It seeks to capture the strength, beauty, and elegance of a powerful Kentucky legend. This work highlights the artist's love of anatomy and this Triple Crown winner with an emphasis on the stark contrasts in color provided by charcoal.
Lauren Barker is a native of Lexington, KY. She holds a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Kentucky and serves full-time as a pediatric physical therapist in central Kentucky. Another of her passions, however, is working as an artist with a primary emphasis in charcoal as a medium. She is known for her realistic drawings of Kentucky-inspired themes, beloved family pets, and recreating snapshots of family members and special events, including ultrasounds and weddings.
LouRae Stacy Pink and Blue Reflections is a piece composed of brightly-colored acrylic yarn applied to a piece of primary tufting cloth using a tufting machine. This bold illustration portrays a classic silhouette of Kentucky's most beloved symbol with an innocent curiosity. While the antiqued, ornate frame implies a reserved composure, the energetic color palette provides a sharp modern contrast with its boundaries’ restraint.
Operating as Calico Rugs, LouRae is a fiber artist based in Lexington, Kentucky who uses a tufting machine and punch needle to create textile works of art featuring her whimsical and heavily graphic illustrations. Her "fluffy art" typically features saturated, brightly colored acrylic yarn depicting symbols, experiences and otherworldly creatures. She enjoys creating art with a light-hearted approach and a nontraditional medium that encourages the viewer to touch and feel the piece.
Marilyn Sadler It’s always interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes of an event, and this time it was the horse pull at the Bourbon County Fair. Different horses react differently to all the fair activities. One horse tied to a trailer waiting for its turn to pull was becoming increasingly agitated at the sounds of squealing pigs in the next barn, and started jumping up and down; he had to be put back into the trailer for his own safety. Other horses take all the noises in stride. This horse was very relaxed, to the point of looking bored (yawn!).
Artist Marilyn Sadler, who resides in Versailles, Kentucky, was born and raised in Ohio and spent her childhood drawing, painting and riding. She and her husband owned, bred and raced Thoroughbred horses and she became a licensed racehorse trainer. Marilyn’s hands-on horse experience has been instrumental in her ability to understand anatomy for portraying horses. She is a member of the Plein Air Painters of the Bluegrass, an Associate Member of Oil Painters of America, and a Juried Member and Board Member of the American Academy of Equine Art.
Megan Hayden Curiosity was captured after the first significant snow of 2022. On an small adventure around Lexington to capture the beauty of the snowfall I met a friend who was supremely curious about my camera as I was photographing. With the snowy background and the bright and intelligent eyes searching for an answer as to what exactly the camera was, the resultant capture perfectly reflected the beauty of the day. Unintentional experiences often result in the most beautiful captures.
Megan Hayden is a photographer who loves to freeze moments in time and finds joy in sharing the way she sees the world. A transplant to Kentucky, she has now called Lexington home for 20 plus years and can't think of any better place to live. The horses, the hills, the forests, the waterfalls all continually provide food for the soul. She officially began Megan Hayden Photography in June of 2022 and has has work published in several magazines and enjoys sharing her photography online.
Nancy Hall This pastel painting is of my friend's two horses, however they aren't just horses, they are her family. Although they were adopted separately, they immediately became best friends. I was inspired by this photo, I felt that it captured their sweet spirit as they shared a drink. I saw blue reflections in their mane, that I wanted to exaggerate but yet still capture the simplicity of this moment.
I am originally from Buffalo, NY where I studied graphic design. I took a workshop with a local pastel portrait artist and it was then that I fell in love with working with pastels and so passionate and connected to what I paint. Pastels allow me to apply layers of color and shapes to create magic on paper and capture the spirit of my subject. I began painting portraits of people and animals and then landscapes. I am greatly inspired by the pure beauty of nature and the life within.
Olivia Manuel Growing up on a farm, I was surrounded by the vibrant color schemes characteristic of Lexington, Kentucky and developed a strong admiration for nature. I have always enjoyed observing details that are otherwise neglected by the busy eye, and decided to portray this in my painting, Inter Vinos. Although it began as a mere gift to a friend, Inter Vinos soon progressed into a physical representation of my innermost feelings of awe and admiration for the beauty within Kentucky.
As a Kentucky native and law student, I try to portray my observations of life and nature through my artwork. While painting, rather than directly mimicking the image presented to me or altering what I see to appeal to the eye, I focus on accentuating the colors that others might disregard. I apply this method of painting to life's challenges as well. Many problems within a structure can be resolved by directing attention away from the ostensible details. In this way, painting has helped me see beyond what is easily observable.
Ree Wilson This traditional portrait is of a retired thoroughbred. Pastels allow me to draw with color, and are my connection to a childhood of using crayons. Line quality is important to me and I work to find a balance between controlled mark making and the loose and lyrical.
I am a retired chef and have been a serious amateur musician. I treasure my life with my wife and our pets, and wish for nothing more.
Salina Ramsay Every horse breeder anticipates the arrival of the first foal of the season. First Foal is meant to represent the Kentucky tradition of equine husbandry. First Foal was included in Team Kentucky's exhibit, 2022 and was on display in the Kentucky Capitol from January 1, 2022 through June 30, 2022.
Salina Ramsay is an artist, designer, and lifelong horsewoman. Ramsay works from her home studio in a variety of mediums, including oil, watercolor, pencil, and carving for lost wax. Beginning in her early twenties, Ramsay had several solo shows in North Carolina and Kentucky. In 2002, Ramsay was featured artist in a Kentucky public television show as part of its Kentucky Life series. In 2010, Ramsay’s 14k gold pin featured prominently in the Secretariat movie. In 2013, Ramsay was made a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Steve Beshear. In 2022, two of Ramsay's works were chosen to hang in the Kentucky Capitol Rotunda during the late Spring and early Summer.
Sandra Leach "The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart." - Helen Keller
I grew up in Germany and moved to the US in 2010. My passion for painting was tucked away for many years and just came back a few years ago, when I was trying to make it through life. Watercolor and ink for me are another form of keeping a diary. My painting never starts with much planning or any commitment of what it should look like at the end. It mostly is influenced by the risk I am taking that day and the reward is the outcome of the painting. What appeals to me are lots of colors and a big splash of flash!
Shelley Hunter This piece showcases that moment at the track, very early in the morning, when all the power and beauty of the horse in full flight, belongs to the horse and rider alone.
Award winning artist Shelley Hunter's paintings and sculpture showcase bold, strong images with lots of action. She looks on art as a lifelong journey and she is a happy traveler in the land of form, color and light.
Stephanie Hilen My goal is to capture the feeling of being fully present in a moment in time. I am mesmerized by the way contrasting colors interact and little details that bring a scene to life. In Betting on Gray, the diffused lighting of the overcast day highlights the brightly colored jockey’s hats and silks. Your eyes then focus to the energy of the main subject in mid-stride flinging mud from the reflective, rain-covered racetrack. Upon zooming out, the soft gray background adds depth to the scene and unifies with the gray horse, then separating the cool gray tones from the warm orange tones. While the gray horse is not leading the pack, evidenced by the sprays of mud dotting their front, we subconsciously cheer them on with hopeful anticipation. They are our underdog.
Stephanie Hilen is a fine artist creating from her home studio in Lexington, Kentucky. With the foundation of a classical visual art education, Stephanie specializes in representation oil paintings that celebrate the beauty of Central Kentucky’s equine culture. Inspired by light, complimentary colors and little details in nature, her style brings a fresh approach to traditional realism. Stephanie’s paintings have found their way into the homes and businesses in Kentucky and across the country, with notable collectors including Claiborne Farm, University of Kentucky Healthcare, and her alma mater Centre College. Available paintings and prints can be found online at www.stephaniehilen.com.
Tessa Habash The painting Just Cheezin' is one of my favorites because it represents a special way horses can communicate with us. The faces of these magnificent creatures are larger than life up close as they "talk" using their smiles and gentle nibbling skills. I believe all creatures can communicate with us on some level. I feel that connection when painting animal and human faces alike. The creatures seem to come alive on the canvas and their likeness keeps me company in my studio. I hope this painting makes you smile as much as it does for me!
Tessa Habash is an artist relatively new to watercolor painting. She and her family have hosted painting and crafting workshops at their flower farm Lavender In Bloom in Georgetown, KY since 2018. She is an optometrist at Advanced Eye Care Center and has an "eye" for detail in all things. Tessa loves the creative expression and relaxation that comes from painting with acrylics and watercolor.
Tracey Sanchez When I paint a horse I love to show movement. Horse and Rider is a great example of that movement using a unique angle. You can almost hear the hooves beating the ground as the horse runs and the swish of the tail. Horses are beautiful when standing still, and they become even more majestic when you see them in motion.
Art has always been an important factor in my life from a young age. I can remember sitting with my grandma drawing, or watching her make beautiful designs on handmade quilts. My passion for art continued through high school where I was able to be a part of the Governor's School for the Arts in the summer of 1996. Once in college I chose a different path for a career in education. Working full-time, being a wife, and mom to two young boys left little time for painting. My art supplies sat collecting dust for many years. When the pandemic hit I found myself, like so many others, spending more time at home looking for ways to pass time. I found an old sketch book and pencils and began to draw just for fun.
The memories of how much I enjoyed art came back to me. Everyday I would either be drawing or painting and it really made my soul come alive in such a difficult time. Although I enjoyed my time in the classroom immensely, after teaching for 18 years I took the leap and pursued my dream of being a full-time artist. It has been an amazing, terrifying, exciting, and hard journey for me as well as my family. I feel that I am doing what I was truly meant to do.
Trey Beckett Horse Portrait was created with watercolor and charcoal on paper. This traditional-like horse portrait is married using a soft watercolor palette with energetic lines and gestures using charcoal.
Trey Beckett is a West Virginia native but has lived in Lexington, Kentucky since 2016. While living in the Bluegrass, he has cultivated a unique artistic aesthetic. His recent work is inspired by photographs of horses, jockeys, and horseman from the 1950's and 1960's. His wife's profession and passion for horse racing has impacted his perspective into the arduous and fearless lifestyle of racing horses. His work actively seeks juxtapositions of traditional horse racing imagery with captivating color palettes and techniques. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Marshall University.
Valtcho Tonov This is one of series of 6 paintings I made exploring the more emotional aspect of painting horses and Kentucky. It's all about the feel you get when you look at horses in the fields covered with mist and the sun it's just breaking in .
Valtcho Tonov is a mostly self-taught artist who was born in, Bulgaria 1972. Always interested in drawing he took art seriously at the age of sixteen when his family relocated to Plovdiv. After moving to the United States in 2001, he soon settled in Louisville, Kentucky. Classically trained to paint the landscape and human figures, Valtcho has continued his studies under the tutelage of renowned contemporary artists and developing his own style . A passionate Plein Air painter he can be seen painting around USA and Europe. He is a member of the Plein Air Painters of KY and the American Impressionist Society. As a full time painter his repertoire includes landscape, still life, abstract, sporting, and figurative subjects . Tonov prefers the Alla Prima approach, painting mostly from life with oil paint, transforming the outdoor studies into bigger paintings in the studio, with attention to expressive brush strokes, light and edges. “Painting is supposed to evoke a feeling, emotional attachment. It’s either the color, composition, edge quality and size regardless if it is an abstract or representational style” Drawing inspiration from Richard Schmidt, Willem de Kooning, Gerhard Richter, Alex Kanevsky and many more. You can see more of his work at www.vptart.com or @valtchotonov on Instagram.
Willard Harrell I told my wife that the name of this painting would be "Practice Horse" because this was my first attempt at horses, however when it was finished it just looked like it was bout to bolt off the canvas thus the name. As a late comer to the equestrian scene I surprised myself, so I went crazy and started a bunch of horse paintings, I was completely shocked when this piece was selected. If it wasn't for the encouragement of my wife none of these paintings would exist. I like to live a peaceful and quiet life, I enjoy golfing and playing guitar.
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Public Gallery Hours
Wednesday 12pm-5pm
Thursday 12pm-5pm Friday 12pm-5pm Saturday 12pm - 5pm Viewings also available by appointment |
The Loudoun House
209 Castlewood Dr. Lexington, Ky. 40505 Email: [email protected]
Phone 859-254-7024 |
All Lexington Art League programs are made possible through the generous support of LexArts.
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The Kentucky Arts Council, a state arts agency, provides operating support to the Lexington Art League with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional support provided by Lexington Parks & Recreation.
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