Inspiration in Taos

Inspiration in Taos: Robert M. Ellis, is the first exhibit in a series curated for the Ernest Thompson Fine Furniture Showroom. We are excited to partner with the Ernest Thompson Showroom on this project to highlight the rich culture and style, unique to New Mexico. By curating local New Mexican artists into the showroom, we hope that the beauty of the artwork among the handcrafted original pieces created by the artisans of Ernest Thompson will inspire.

I am pleased to continue to work with the Robert M. Ellis Art Collection Trust to exhibit and place the remaining pieces by Robert (Bob) M. Ellis into good homes and honor his legacy. Ellis moved to New Mexico in 1964 and was immediately struck by the iconic vistas of Northern New Mexico. However, it wasn’t until the 80’s that Ellis began seriously pursuing the landscape. Heading toward his retirement in 1987, Ellis spent much of his free time teaching at the D. H. Lawrence Ranch and eventually building his home and studio in the area.

Ellis loved the land, he spent much of his time wandering the many hills, cliffs and ravines. In particular, he spent time in the Rio Grande Gorge. The Rio Grande Gorge begins near the border of Colorado and runs approximately 50 miles, it is about 800 feet at the deepest point. Ellis’s impressions of the gorge in pastel, charcoal and pencil on paper use simple, repetitive strokes that communicate rocks and trees without great detail. Ellis, did frequently paint the Taos landscape in immaculate detail on his works in oil on canvas, most like the round aquatint print, Valdez Valley #3. However, most of his works on paper capture a specific fleeting moment. As the audience, we might also speculate that many of these works on paper were studies of the land for painting. The predominantly monochromatic works, such as Rio Grande Gorge No. 16a and Rio Grande Gorge No. 14 are constrained into a geometric shape on a white background. This style was something Ellis frequently used in his oil on canvas landscape, but also in previous series of works.

Ellis’s second approach to landscape on paper mixes a handful of colors, leaving his audience to ponder what his impression of the land was at the time. These colorful works are juxtaposed over a grid of lines that recede into the horizon. Large quick strokes of color are vigorously placed down to build the landscape on the paper. The spontaneity of these strokes is joyful through color. We do not see a heavy geometric constraint placed upon these works, rather the lines which create depth in the works are symbolic of fields. Ellis related the lines of fields from high above in the valley North of Taos to that of wooden floorboards in his studio, this is apparent in Untitled Taos Mountain, Orange.

Ellis worked in series of paintings throughout his career. Circa the 1980s Ellis pursued the landscape of Northern New Mexico. Following his retirement from UNM in 1987, Ellis accepted an interim position as Director of UNM’s Harwood Museum in Taos. He held the position for the next 10 years or so, and in the early 90s switched his interest from the landscape.

To view Ellis’s works, visit his website, click here. To view the collection please contact The Curated Creative at 505.850.2307, 7 days a week by appointment only at the Robert M. Ellis Studio. To view the exhibit please stop into Ernest Thompson’s Albuquerque Showroom.

All artworks on exhibition are available for purchase, please inquire with Brianne: 505-850-2307 or email brianne@curated-creative.studio

Artworks for this exhibition are generously loaned by the Robert M. Ellis Art Collection Trust. The trust is dedicated to caring for and maintaining the legacy of Ellis. Today the collection has a few more than 700+ original works by Ellis. To learn about the trust and see works not shown here, please visit: http://www.robertmellis.com/

To schedule an appointment to view additional works by Robert M. Ellis at the Trust, please contact:

Brianne: 505-850-2307 or email brianne@curated-creative.studio