The Family Tradition 2016

Mark Maggiori's painting, The Family Tradition, captures a timeless Western scene with striking clarity. Look at how Maggiori builds up the scene with these distinct, almost cinematic layers. The way he models the clouds feels both classical and contemporary, like he is thinking about photography. The material presence here is undeniable. The artist's brushstrokes on the horse are visible, the paint thick enough to give real texture. There’s a dance between representation and abstraction happening, especially in the foreground. See the bushes at the front of the painting? They almost dissolve into pure color and form, bringing a delightful tension between what we know and how we see. This piece reminds me a bit of Maynard Dixon's work, but with a modern sensibility. It shows art is an ongoing dialogue where artists borrow, transform, and build upon what came before. It’s up to us to find our own connections and meanings, making the experience uniquely ours.