At the 2025 Aspen Art Fair, New York's Alexandre Gallery successfully sold two large-scale wildlife landscape paintings by influential contemporary artist Tom Uttech. The sold works, titled "Nin-babishagi" (2022) and "Sagiwan Sibi" (2022), were displayed complete with the artist's signature hand-painted frames, alongside three additional smaller recent works from Uttech's collection.
The 82-year-old Wisconsin-based artist has built a reputation as one of today's most significant landscape painters, combining his artistic vision with deep environmental consciousness. "Pure solitude and immersion in the world are becoming almost impossible in any place," Uttech explained, highlighting his concern about the disappearance of untouched natural spaces in our modern world. This philosophical approach to nature has become central to his artistic mission, as he sees himself equally as an environmentalist and a painter.
Phil Alexandre, owner of Alexandre Gallery, expressed enthusiasm about introducing Uttech's work to the Aspen community. "We were so pleased to introduce Tom Uttech's paintings to the Aspen community," Alexandre said. "Uttech's paintings capture the wonder, majesty, and mystery of the natural world with a rare depth of imagination, inviting viewers to step into landscapes that feel both familiar and otherworldly." Alexandre noted that bringing Uttech's vision to Aspen felt particularly meaningful, given the town's intimate yet humbling relationship with its surrounding wilderness.
Uttech's inspiration continues to draw from his regular expeditions to Ontario, Canada, where he can still paddle a canoe for miles without encountering human development or interference. These journeys to pristine wilderness areas fuel his artistic vision and reinforce his environmental perspective. The artist's commitment to capturing unspoiled nature reflects his belief that such experiences are becoming increasingly rare and precious.
The artist's journey began in childhood and was formalized through rigorous academic training. He earned a bachelor's degree in art from the Layton School in Milwaukee, followed by a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati. Uttech then became a professor at the University of Wisconsin, where he dedicated years to mastering painting and printmaking techniques. In his 50s, driven by an urgent need to focus entirely on his art, he retired from academia to pursue painting full-time.
Uttech has created an ideal working environment by converting a barn on his Wisconsin farm into a studio space, removing the hay to make room for his artistic practice. "I just try to paint like heck and do the best work I can," Uttech shared. "And if something good happens that other people create for it, I love it. I would be doing this no matter what." The artist maintains a disciplined routine, painting every night as part of his commitment to his craft.
At 82, Uttech remains actively engaged in evolving his artistic practice and continues to achieve success in the art world. His philosophy centers on continuous growth and avoiding repetition in his work. "I try to keep growing and not repeating and perfecting the spiritual and emotional experience about being in the woods contained in the paintings," he explained. This approach has allowed him to maintain freshness and authenticity in his landscape works while deepening the emotional resonance of his environmental message through art.
