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KEN CHRISTENSEN

ARTIST BIO

Ken Christensen is a classic, on-site landscape painter in the style of the French Impressionists and Fauves, painting with the vision, color, and verve of such painters as Van Gogh, Vlaminck, Marquet and Derain yet with the American perspective of Hopper and Benton.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Flint, Michigan, Ken graduated Michigan State University where he was also part of an overseas study program in London and Manchester in England. Ken returned later to travel and live in Europe, eventually settling in Paris where he attended life drawing classes at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and was an official copyist at the Louvre Museum.

In the summer of 1988 he returned to Michigan, spending winters in New Mexico where he exhibited at the Linda McAdoo Gallery among others. Ken moved to the California Central Coast in 1998 where his work has been featured in numerous galleries including a prestigious exhibit at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. His paintings have been featured on the cover of the Daniel Smith catalogue and written about in Artist's Sketchbook Magazine, as well as in local newspapers. He is the founder of a bold group of painters, The New Fauves, committed to propagating the style of the great French Fauve painters. Ken Christensen continues to live in Los Osos, California mixing plein air and studio work.

CURATOR'S COMMENTS

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ARTWORK BY

KEN CHRISTENSEN

A ROW OF EUCALYPTUS

$4,800.00

COAST GUARD BOATS

$3,800.00

MY FRONT YARD

$5,800.00

PARIS WINDOW

$3,000.00

RED ROCK

$1,800.00

SPOONERS COVE

$2,200.00

WE ARE OLD WE STILL WORK

$2,800.00

Get to Know Ken Christensen

Who is contemporary artist Ken Christensen?

Ken Christensen is a celebrated California landscape painter, author, and educator known for his bold, expressive paintings inspired by the French Impressionists and Fauves. Working both en plein air and in the studio, Christensen creates vibrant landscapes that combine strong color, energetic brushwork, and a deeply personal vision of the places he paints.

What is Ken Christensen known for?

Ken Christensen is best known for his distinctive Fauvist-inspired landscapes and his fearless use of color and paint. As the founder of The New Fauves, an international group of artists committed to the spirit of the great French Fauve painters, Christensen has developed a style that transforms everyday scenes into powerful and joyful works of art.

What inspires Ken Christensen's work?

Ken Christensen draws inspiration from the landscapes of California's Central Coast, as well as from his years living and painting in France, Spain, New Mexico, and Michigan. He is especially interested in finding beauty in ordinary places, using bold color, expressive brushwork, and direct observation to create paintings that reveal the extraordinary within the familiar.

Where can I purchase original artwork by Ken Christensen?

Selected original paintings and available works by Ken Christensen can be viewed and purchased through The Gallery Arroyo Grande online and in person. Collectors are invited to explore available landscapes and inquire about current works, exhibitions, and opportunities to add Ken Christensen's vibrant California paintings to their collections.

Interested in collecting work by 

Ken Christensen?

Explore available artwork online or contact The Gallery to inquire about current works, commissions, and upcoming exhibitions.

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Established in 2021, The Gallery Arroyo Grande represents both local and national artists, exhibiting modern and contemporary paintings and sculpture on the Central Coast, California. 

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We are pleased to provide a range of fine art services, exhibits and events. Join our mailing list to stay up to date on opening parties and new exhibitions. 

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© 2023 THE GALLERY ARROYO GRANDE | 213 EAST BRANCH STREET | ARROYO GRANDE | CA

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