Signed lower left: Ed Mell

Leanin Tree Museum Collection; Scottsdale Art Auction, Scottsdale, Arizona, January 19, 2018, lot 439; The collection of Frederick Schrader, Napa, California, acquired from the above.

Ed Mell (American, 1942-2024) Reaching Clouds, 2011 Oil on canvas 36 x 36 inches (91.4 x 91.4 cm) Signed lower left: Ed Mell Signed, dated, and titled on the reverse: "Reaching Clouds" Ed Mell 2011 Ed Mell Property from the Collection of Frederick H. Schrader, Napa, California PROVENANCE: Leanin' Tree Museum Collection; Scottsdale Art Auction, Scottsdale, Arizona, January 19, 2018, lot 439; Frederick H. Schrader, Napa Valley, California, acquired from the above. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1942, Ed Mell was deeply influenced by the region's stark desert beauty. After studying art and working as an illustrator in New York, Mell returned to the Southwest, where he found his true artistic voice. The landscapes of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah became his primary subjects. These lands, rich in rugged topography, offered endless inspiration for Mell's innovative compositions. His dynamic depictions of the American Southwest transform the natural world into bold, angular forms, offering viewers a fresh perspective on the desert's sweeping plains, jagged mountain ranges, and energetic skies. Reaching Clouds is a large-scale work that perfectly balances light and shadow with precision, creating sharp contrasts across the landscape and adding depth to the flat, geometric planes. This technique gives his work an almost cinematic quality as if the viewer is witnessing a scene unfolding under the powerful sunlight of the desert. The present work is not a mere representation of nature but an expression of the energy and majesty of the landscape. As Mell himself once said, "I strive to capture the dynamic forces that shape the land and skies, reducing them to their elemental forms." Mell's ability to evoke the power and solitude of the desert reflects the region's timeless and almost otherworldly atmosphere. The angularity of his forms may seem abstract at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they reveal the essence of mesas, cliffs, and clouds—stripped down to their most fundamental shapes. Ed Mell passed away on February 21, 2024, at the age of 81, a loss that has deeply impacted the Western Art world. His warm character, witty humor, and creative brilliance will forever live on through his spectacular dynamic vistas, and his light will continue to shine down on the majestic beauty of the Southwest. HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Unlined canvas. Under UV exam, there does not appear to be inpaint. Overall presents well with no visible issues to note. Framed Dimensions 41.5 X 41.5 Inches