Michael Coleman

A native of Provo, Utah, Michael Coleman still lives and works in his hometown. After spending his childhood in the outdoors, he studied art at Brigham Young University. His tendency toward traditional representation drew criticism from his instructors at a time when abstract expressionism was at its height. Undaunted, Coleman drew inspiration from the Hudson River school and from painters like Henry Farny, Thomas Moran, and George Inness. He had his first solo exhibition at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (now the Buffalo Bill Center of the West) in Cody, Wyoming, when he was just 32. Coleman works mainly in oil and gouache, creating large-scale compositions that depict people in harmony with nature in the West. Fall and winter scenes are a particular favorite as Coleman enjoys using a dusky color palette. In addition to painting, the artist also works in bronze and won the 1999 Prix de West Award at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.