Alaska’s artists act as educators and historians, social commentators and tour guides. Anchorage is home to many of their works; in fact, many of the greats – Alaska Native carvers, pioneering painters and masters of modern mediums – live here, either literally or in spirit.
Just like it’s impossible to conquer every Alaska adventure in a lifetime, it’s also impossible to list every important Alaska artist here. But if you are an art fan, here are a few you should get to know during your Anchorage visit.
Most Alaska art conversations involve Sydney Laurence, arguably the state’s most renowned artist. A prospector turned full-time painter in the early 1900s, Laurence’s works are the visual voice of Alaska’s pioneer landscapes and lifestyles. He painted Alaskans, their homes and their surroundings, but he’s most recognized for his depictions of the mountainous muse, Mount McKinley. He has many paintings hanging around Alaska, including some powerful pieces in the Anchorage Museum.
If Laurence is best known for his Alaska landscapes, another pioneer painter, Eustace Ziegler, is known for his Alaskans. Ziegler traveled the state and his most popular paintings are reflections of the people who inhabited and built Alaska at the turn of the century.
Few Alaska artists are more beloved than Fred Machetanz, whose lithographs are legendary and use of whites and blues in his paintings add an icy, dreamlike vibe to his works. He also had a penchant for polar bears that viewers love.
Byron Birdsall is a living legend whose watercolor paintings are intimate reflections of Alaska. Barbara Lavallee’s watercolor works capture the joy of Alaska life. Rie Munoz is a Juneau-based painter and printmaker who makes colorful impressions. Painter and illustrator Jon Van Zyle is the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race’s official artist and he has an authenticity most can’t boast – he’s actually competed in the rugged race.
Athabascan Sonya Kelliher-Combs explores modern mixed media and tradition. Inupiat Larry Ahvakana expresses through diverse mediums (glass, jewelry, carvings, and more) and materials. Anchorage’s Julie Decker is among Alaska’s most respected, and creative, modern artists.
You might not be able to list all of Alaska’s amazing artists, but it is possible to meet some of them by participating in Anchorage’s First Friday Art Walk. On the first Friday of each month, Anchorage’s galleries celebrate new exhibits with special events that are often attended by artists and art fans.
