In the Studio with Frank Webster

Frank Webster's strong concern for contemporary environmental issues permeate his recent work. After spending time at the NES and Ucross artist residencies, Webster commenced a series of large scale landscape paintings. Although at first glance these paintings hark back to the tradition of the sublime and of grand tour travel paintings, on further examination they reveal a wistfulness for things passing, permeated with a sense of urgency that is emblematic of our current period of rapid climate change. Webster has been selected for the 2020 voyage of the Arctic Circle Residency.

How is self isolation due to the virus affecting your work?

As with everyone I know in New York City, I've been hunkered down in virtual quarantine. This has given me the opportunity to go deep with the work and to spend time on reflection. One sees what a fragile ecosystem we live in and how something very small can have an unprecedented global impact. I hope we come out of this a little wiser and perhaps a bit more compassionate towards others and the planet we live on. 

https://www.fwebster.com/

The Dark Valley, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 80" x 160"

Timefulness, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 80” x 96”