b. 1947
Classical Western Themes with Modernist Style
Dennis Ziemienski is internationally known for his compelling poster-like images in oil. A San Francisco native, he has won numerous awards and has had commissions by Time-Life, Levi-Strauss, Rolling Stone, and the New York Times in addition to Super Bowl XXIX, the 2006 Kentucky Derby, and the Sonoma Salute to the Arts. His art has also adorned book covers such as “Tales of the City” by Armisted Maupin, “Glitz” and “Bandits” by Elmore Leonard.
He refers to the imagery found in his oil paintings as “the Old West after the Old West”. It’s the period of time when railroads, vehicles, motels, and rodeos began to dominate the western landscape at the beginning of the last century. “I like that period of time because it hasn’t been well recorded”, says the artist. “You don’t see a lot of paintings of cowboys sitting in Model T Fords, but they did and right alongside their horses.”
The key to Ziemienski’s paintings is understanding the juxtaposition of the classic cowboy life with the increasing influence of Modernism. The scenes in his work accurately depict Western life during this particular time period. “I was born in 1947 and growing up, living in California and taking car trips with my family allowed me to see a lot of this imagery but by the 60’s and 70’s, I noticed that much of it was starting to fade away”, says Dennis. “All of the things I witnessed then started to make me think that some day I would like to record those things, so now I am.”
Besides the power of these images, the artist would like collectors to understand the sense of design and composition involved with each piece and the subtle abstract qualities that unite them as works of art.
Selective Exhibitions and Awards
2007 – Santa Lucia Preserve, Invitational En Plein Air, Carmel, CA
2006-07 Grand Canyon: From dream to Icon, Tucson Museum of Art, AZ
2006 First Place at Point Reyes Plein Air Show, CA
2004 - 11th Annual Carmel Art Festival, Plein Air Competition, Carmel, Ca
2004 – Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Wet Paint Event, Sonoma, CA
2004 - Sonoma Plein Air, Sonoma CA
Selective Publications
2009 feature article, Western Art Collector
2008 Western Art Collector, cover and feature article, January
2007 feature article, Western Art Collector
2007, Sonoma Magazine, feature article, Winter
2007 Santa Fe Trend
2006 Southwest Art, Best of the West, March
