The Michael Smith Gallery features two contemporary artists, Gregory Frank Harris and Lynn Stauffer.

Gregory Frank Harris, oil painter

Gregory Frank Harris has been with the Michael Smith Gallery for nearly four and half years and it has been an extraordinarily relationship for both the Gallery and the artist. Just as the Gallery has developed a strong following of collectors, so has Gregory developed his feel for Western landscapes. Terribly hardworking and productive, Gregory is regional master of depicting the weather moods and feel of New Mexico.

Gregory Harris was born in California in 1953 and has worked in a broad range of media ever since. Studying ceramics, theatre, watercolors, music composition, pastels, piano, French impressionism, and finally plein-air painting, he has grown into a genuine master of the New Mexico atmospheric drama and power.

These days Gregory is considered a young and up-coming New Mexico landscape painter primarily because of his handling of light. Gallery visitors and critics each experience his work in soothing, refreshing ways, and often relate his work to a slow stroll through the landscape pictured.

Read Gregory Frank Harris Biography and Plein Air versus Studio article by Gregory Frank Harris.

View our collection of Gregory Frank Harris's artwork.

Lynn Stauffer, embroidery artist

The Michael Smith Gallery is extremely proud to be showing the whimsical embroidery-art of Lynn Stauffer. In terms of both content and technique, Lynn's work is truly extraordinary and universally admired. As can be seen from the images, she both challenges and employees the most traditional of images and motifs. Most of her samplers are small landscapes depicting wild or domestic animals with an occasional dwelling. She uses warm greens, blues, and tans that are reminiscent of medieval tapestries or early renaissance landscape paintings. Often she will place a bird and leaf motif as an edge or border element.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Lynn studied art at The John Burroughs School, Washington University, and Les Beaux Arts under Robert Tovey. She integrates her head with her hands, most usually employing techniques that require intense eye-finger coordination. She has generally left the world of oil painting to concentrate on the current embroidered landscapes.

Read Lynn Stauffer Biography.

View our collection of Lynn Stauffer's embroideries.