Rachel Dahl
Artwork exploring the vast, often-overlooked landscapes of the Great Basin is now on display at the Churchill Arts Council, following a recent gallery opening at the E.L. Wiegand and Kirk Robertson Galleries.
The exhibition, Binocular and Spy Glass Paintings of the Great Basin, features work by artist Patrick Kikut, whose paintings draw from decades of travel throughout the American West. Kikut’s work focuses on remote highways, wide horizons, and the spaces between protected lands, places shaped by both natural forces and the quiet imprint of human presence.
Kikut describes his paintings as emerging from extensive time spent on the road, often sketching in landscapes that feel suspended between isolation and history. His work invites viewers to step into scenes that resemble abandoned stage sets, where traces of human activity suggest stories left unfinished. The resulting images reflect both the beauty and fragility of the ever-changing West.
Originally from Colorado, Kikut earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Colorado and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Montana. He has taught at the college level for more than 30 years, including long tenures at the University of Wyoming, the University of Texas at El Paso, and Highlands University of New Mexico. His work is held in several public collections, including the Nevada Museum of Art.
The gallery reception was held Jan. 23 at the Oats Park Art Center, with an accompanying artist workshop offered the following morning at the Oats Park Art School.
The exhibition is open to the public during regular gallery hours.
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