Kenton Hyatt

The American southwest is a place of elemental, geologic drama which offers its power for the fascination and engagement to all. This is where I am from, and where I live.

My work draws on both my own emotional experience, my training, practice, and the traditions of Luminism, Romanticism, and Tonalism. I am comfortable being somewhat of an anachronism because I recognize the power of the creative unconscious which founded these movements.

For the most part, my work is imaginative, but draws heavily on Romantic realism. Creative work is, while it is being made, a dialog between artist and the work, and afterwards, a dialog between viewer and the work: I invite you to explore, and when you feel called, fall into a conversation with a picture.

It is my hope that one of these images will touch your soul.

Ohio University, Ph.D Dissertation: Visual Communication

Images have always been of particular interest to me. My dissertation was an answer to the question, “How does a photograph communicate?” (The answer was, 'It depends...') I have also published a few academic articles about visual communication. As a young man, I studied painting with Josef and Zdenka Buresch, who were both Chezc artists. I also studied and taught photography in higher education.

I have sold paintings and photographs independently over the course of my life. I have placed photos and paintings in occasional shows, and have paintings in private collections, including William Randolph Hearst Jr., Sheila Pinkle, and Maila Davenport.