To paint one of his scenes of the New American West, artist and fourth-generation Coloradan Dave Kennedy simply reaches into his memories for inspiration from a life spent outdoors. Years of competitive road cycling, trail wrangling, working in fields and as a rodeo hand shape his singular point of view, which is depicted in acrylic images of vast plains, peaceful rivers and soaring mountains where the horizon is painted low on the canvas. This immediately draws the eye upwards to Kennedy’s skies and cloudscapes.
“All of these life experiences required my attention to be focused on the weather changes above the broad horizon,” he says. “When I paint, I recognize the smells, feel the dry air, hear the natural sounds and recognize the awesome beauty Mother Nature provides.”
A Desire to Create
Born in Greeley, Kennedy grew up surrounded by ranchers, farmers and prairie preachers. He realized he wanted to pursue art at just eight years old, when his family temporarily relocated to California.
“My three sisters would head for the ice cream shop while I would stare into the windows of the world-class art galleries lining Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea,” Kennedy recalls.
He sharpened his skills on countless paint-by-number kits before winning first place in a California poster competition—awarded to him by then-governor Ronald Reagan. After returning to Colorado, he immersed himself in the ranch lifestyle that would become one of his biggest artistic influences. Kennedy’s recent work has been exhibited at fine art festivals in Denver, Golden, Boulder, Vail and Crested Butte, one his favorite places.
“The drive there is stunningly beautiful,” he says. “The ranching community in the valley is a true representation of the culture I love and the New American West I paint.”
Building Community Through Art
Kennedy now lives in Boulder, where he owns and operates Wilderness Art Studios, a nonprofit studio collective. It provides 28 local artists with affordable space to create, located next door to the Boulder Art Association and Boulder School of Fine Art.
“I find deep satisfaction in mentoring other artists who want to take those first steps into the commercial world of selling their art,” Kennedy says. “It has become my happy place, my community, my tribe.”
Kennedy buys all of his art supplies—and donates the studio’s reusable materials—within a two-mile radius. He spends each winter creating 20-25 paintings to bring to summer markets. His 2026 collection, “The New American West Reflected,” was displayed last month in Denver’s D’art Gallery. This summer, these works will be shown at Denver’s Cheesman Park Art Fest (July 24-26) and Crested Butte Arts Festival (July 31-August 2). Kennedy says that his art resonates because the appeal of the West’s expansive skies and impressive cloud formations is universal.
“Most everyone can relate to experiencing them, and people buy art because they can relate to it,” he says.
Address + Phone: 2810 Wilderness Place, Boulder | 303-547-6000
Websites: https://kennedystudioart.com/ and https://www.wildernessartstudios.com/
Facebook: @profile.php?id=100054318829356#
Instagram: @KennedyStudioArt