Nancy Rynes Fine Art

Nancy Rynes is a contemporary Western painter whose work explores the relationships between people, animals, and the land, shaped by the rhythms of nature and the experience of life in the American West.

Her connection to this subject matter is deeply rooted in her upbringing on her family’s farm, where horses, cattle, and daily life on the land formed the foundation of her early experience. In addition to working with these animals, her family’s involvement in thoroughbred racing—particularly in the training of racehorses—provided her with an understanding of the strength, sensitivity, and partnership between humans and horses. Farm life instilled in her a strong work ethic, as well as a lasting awareness of the cycles of the seasons and the essential connection between people and the natural world.

Rynes studied fine art at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where she developed a classical foundation in drawing and painting from life. She later pursued studies in geology and archaeology at Northern Illinois University and the University of Colorado, Boulder, and worked as an archaeological artist in Jordan. These experiences contributed to her sense of time, place, and the enduring relationship between human activity and the landscape. They also deepened a growing interest in the histories and cultures of the Americas—an interest further enriched by exploring her Native heritage, including Sauk (Meskwaki/Fox) ancestry from North America and Quechua ancestry from South America. This continuing journey of learning has deepened her appreciation for Native perspectives and their enduring relationships with the land.

Returning to painting, she studied with noted Western artists Ralph Oberg, Dan Young, Matt Smith, and Ken Elliott, refining her use of expressive brushwork, light, and color. Following a serious cycling accident that nearly left her paralyzed, her artistic direction shifted toward larger, more dynamic compositions that emphasize energy, movement, and the immersive qualities of lived experience.

Today, Rynes’ work moves beyond representation to convey the felt experience of being within the landscape. Her paintings are rooted in memory and observation, capturing transitional moments such as morning rides, gathering storms, seasonal shifts, that reflect the cyclical nature of life on the land. Increasingly, her work also explores Native American subjects as a way of honoring the histories, resilience, and cultural wisdom of Indigenous peoples while continuing her own journey of research and understanding. Through these scenes, she expresses a belief in the interdependence of all living systems: the connection between people and animals, the reliance on the land, and the shared rhythms that bind them together.

Using expressive brushwork and a focus on light and atmosphere, Rynes seeks to distill each scene to its essence, allowing viewers to step into the experience rather than simply observe it. Her work invites a sense of presence and belonging, offering a perspective in which humanity is not separate from nature, but fully part of it.

Her work has been exhibited in numerous national and regional juried exhibitions, including the Mountain Oyster Club Annual, Phippen Museum Western Art Show, Oil Painters of America National Exhibition, Salon International, and the International Exhibition on Animals in Art, among others. She is represented by Wilde Meyer Gallery (Arizona), The Breckenridge Gallery (Breckenridge, CO), Equis Fine Art (Red Hook, NY), and The Fine Art and Frame Company (Fort Collins, CO).

Media and Credits

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Collections

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Awards

2024: Phippen Museum Western Art Show

2022: Art from Dreams

2020: Draft Horse Classis (2 awards)

2014: Art of the Animal Kingdom

2013: Art and Science (1st place oils)

Education

American Academy of Art, Chicago IL: Fine Art

Northern Illinois University: Geology and Archaeology

Univ of Colorado at Boulder: Geology and Archaeology (graduate work)

Selected Juried Shows and Exhibits

2026 - Resonance, A.R Mitchell Museum of Western Art, CO

2025 - Mountain Oyster Club Art Show, Tucson, AZ

2024/5/6 - Phippen Western Art Show, Prescott, AZ (Award Won)

2023 - Arizona Center for Nature Conservation Exhibit, Phoenix, AZ

2023 - Art from Dreams, Tucson AZ (Award won)

2020 - "Draft Horse Classic,” Sacramento, CA (2 awards won)

2019 - "Bison in Art" at the National Buffalo Museum, Jamestown, ND

2018 - "Shock of the New West" at the Tubac Center for the Arts, Tubac, AZ

2015 - One-person Show: “Strength and Grace” at the Denver Athletic Club, Denver, Colorado

2015 - Colorado Governor’s Invitational at the Loveland Art Museum, Loveland, CO

2013 - One-person Show: "Children of the Rains" at National Centers for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO.

2012-2014 - Art of the Animal Kingdom, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT (Juried Invitational) (Award Won)

2014 - Western Spirit Art Show, Cheyenne, WY

2013 - "Art and Science", Poudre Studio Gallery, Ft Collins, CO (Award Won)

2013 - "Capturing the Light" at Estes Park CAC Gallery, Estes Park, CO

2012, 2013 - Corporate Art Installation at Exelis VIS, Boulder, CO

2003-6, 2012 - International Exhibition on Animals in Art, LSU School Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA

2011 - Small Works Show at River Arts, Damariscotta, Maine

2011, 2012 - Bennington Center for the Arts Small Works Exhibit, Bennington VT

2004-6, 2011 - Culture and Agriculture, New Visions Gallery, Marshfield WI

2010 - River Arts Gallery, Damariscotta, Maine "Anything Goes" exhibit (Juried)

2010 - 2011 Martin's Point Healthcare (installation), 9 pieces (Invitational)

2008 - Nomades del Arte, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe ?2007 - Salon International, Greenhouse Gallery, Fredricksburg, TX

2006 - Oil Painters of America National Exhibit, Dana Gallery, Missoula MT

2004 - 2006 - Plein Air Manitou, Manitou Springs, CO (Invitational)

2004 - 2006 - Annual Small Works Exhibit, LIW Cargo Gallery, CO (Invitational)

2006 - One-person Show: "Small Towns and Backroads," LIW Cargo Gallery, CO

2005 - One Person Show, LIW Cargo Gallery, Manitou Springs, CO

2002 - Yellowstone Museum Small Works Exhibit, Billings, MT

1996 - Arts for the Parks, Jackson, WY