Minnesota artist Adam Swanson uses color to create energetic, vivid paintings that connect humans with the world around us. Time spent in Antarctica with the National Science Foundation spurred a renewed focus in his work, which now includes an upcoming collaboration with local scientists.
In addition to the new project, which will involve creating a series of paintings about research in the Lake Superior Basin, some of his paintings are also being shown at the National Eagle Center Watershed Gallery in Wabasha, MN, through April.
“Learn to Levitate” by Adam Swanson. www.AdamSwanson.com
“Headlong” by Adam Swanson. www.AdamSwanson.com
Swanson initially studied art at the University of Minnesota Duluth — with time in Tasmania, France, and Panama rounding out his coursework. While he also studied sculpture and printmaking, he began to focus on painting for a reason familiar to many young artists starting out: It was cheaper.
“All I needed to do was round up an easel and some paints,” he said. “My apartment was small and budget slim.”
Fast forward to the present, and he now follows a steady schedule in a home studio, producing hundreds of paintings each year.
“I accidentally fell in love with painting, and now, I can’t imagine not painting,” he said. “I still enjoy other forms of expression, such as printmaking and film, but I have worked hard over the years to develop my voice as a painter, and it is here I am most effective.”
“I’m Just Like You” by Adam Swanson. www.AdamSwanson.com
“Remind” by Adam Swanson. www.AdamSwanson.com
While the subjects may vary, he said his works all in some way touch on how humans connect with the natural world. He is also interested in the relationship between art and science; for example, in the way they involve questioning and discovery, according to his website.
“Science and art are deeply related,” he told Sparked. “Both involve looking hard at what’s around us. Taking time to observe. Collecting information, filtering it, and distilling it into something worth saying. This is how we can create some little nugget of wisdom to make the world a better place. A smarter place.”
His current path in painting gained steam after spending some time in Antarctica. Working for the National Science Foundation, he made several trips there and was struck by the unique, extreme environment. The experience changed his perspective, he said, and offered up new ways of viewing art, science, and humanity. After returning to Minnesota in 2009, he began to focus more seriously on developing his voice as an artist, he added.
“Restless” by Adam Swanson. www.AdamSwanson.com
“Dark Sector Lab” by Adam Swanson. www.AdamSwanson.com
For the Lake Superior Basin project, which starts this spring, Swanson plans to conduct site visits with a group of scientists to learn about their work. As they go about data collection, he’ll take pictures for reference and then create a series of eight to 10 paintings from the experience.
“Using paintings as another way to tell the story of science is an idea I have been interested in for a long time,” he said. “I can imagine getting researchers to speak about their work alongside the paintings, providing a creative, well-rounded experience for everyone.”
He recently received a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council for the project, and the goal is to show the final works later this year in a local venue, accompanied by talks from Swanson and the scientists.
While the current project is small, Swanson said he hopes to expand such efforts in the future. More information about his work is available at AdamSwanson.com.
