Though its exact geographic boundaries can be difficult to pinpoint, the American Heartland holds the soul of the nation. In the early 20th century, Regionalist icons like Grant Wood, John Steuart Curry, and Thomas Hart Benton rejected the prevailing trend toward abstraction in favor of painting everyday life in the heart of the Heartland — the Midwest. Here, four contemporary pastel painters bring new life to that enduring narrative, offering fresh interpretations of the middle-American landscape.
The American Heartland has long inspired artists to paint what’s real, familiar, and close to home. At Plein Air Live, you’ll learn from Tom Christopher, Albert Handell, Greg Barnes, and other top artists how to bring that same authenticity to your own corner of the world — wherever it may be.
