Seth Butler:  Mending the Path
March 11 through April 11, 2026

Artist’s Reception
Saturday, March 14th
4:00 – 6:00 PM

Artist’s Statement

I paint surrealistic landscapes, using photographs as only a touchstone from which to branch out, and creatively interpret what the imagination sees. As I dip my toes into fantasy realms, reality is never a safety net, but just the bottom of the creative swimming pool. I take the viewer and myself floating to the surface, as I seek not only to show the surface beauty of the natural world, but also its timeless and bold nature. To stop, breathe, and reflect on the mystery of nature is to reinvigorate our intent, and reflect personal restoration. As I extend the space of possibilities, the act of such is merely a reflection of the natural world
living simply.

Bio

Seth Butler is a fine artist based in Upstate New York, specializing in capturing contemporary landscape and fantasy scenes in bold color and decisive markings and patterns. American, born in 1974, Mr. Butler attended the UAlbany MFA program, where his work spun off of fantasy subjects, embracing landscape as a  conduit of information and the basis of future work, without forgetting that creative interpretation as the vehicle to steer.

Mr. Butler works primarily in oil, in a range of dimensions. He is currently working from a collection of nature photos taken on serene nature walks in Upstate NY. Color and shadow are accentuated to explore the abstraction of form combined with not-so-obvious color choices. The landscape sets the table at its base,   allowing for new language toemerge.

The artist is inspired by Edvard Munch and Pierre Bonnard, to name a few, and by contemporaries such as Peter Doig and Shara Hughes. He is seeking a mutual conversation that welcomes all perspectives.

This program is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.