08 Mar Publisher’s Note: In Memoriam

We bid farewell to one of our greats.

Ed Mell is to contemporary Western art what C.M. Russell and Frederic Remington are to its origins. The archetype. The definition.

He had his own unique voice. That often overused expression speaks of an artist with vision — and in this case, it was never more true. Mell had an amazing way of communicating his special perspective for the rest of us to enjoy. His Modernist art appeals to a broad audience, whether they favor traditional or contemporary styles. Inspired in part by the works of Maynard Dixon, he took his art to an extraordinary level.

Mell’s paintings are dramatic, angular, strikingly simplified landscapes. His brilliant use of color conveys the majesty of the West. Thunderstorms and lightning bolts, iridescently glowing desert flowers, magnificent canyonlands, and towering cloud formations — these are the images of his world.

During his life as an artist, Mell created more than 4,500 sculptures and paintings. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Mell graduated from the ArtCenter College of Design in L.A. and worked as an art director at a major advertising agency in New York City. Six years later, he returned to Arizona to spend the rest of his life painting the landscapes that he loved. 

In tribute to Mell, I reached out to several members of the art community who shared their reflections:

“Ed and I became friends in the ‘80s, as we showed at Suzanne Brown Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona, and eventually showed at other galleries together. Like many others, I always loved his work and was proud to show with him. Always kind and supportive to other artists, Ed never acted like the star that he was,” says artist Howard Post.

“Remarkably, in his nearly 50-year career, he completed approximately 4,500 works. It is notable that despite this prolific output, his prices were still rising at the time of his passing, making him an anomaly in Western art. Of all the artists who have been inspired by Maynard Dixon, I think Ed Mell best utilized the essence of what Dixon was trying to capture as a jumping-off point for creating his own unique and exciting interpretations of the West. He truly set a new standard for excellence in contemporary Western art,” says Seth Hopkins, executive director at the Booth Western Art Museum.

“Ed Mell saw the world a little differently than most. He was able to capture a sense of drama in the most simple yet very complex ways. He was the beginning of what we refer to as the New West. In fact, he was the brick in the foundation of the New West,” says Mark Sublette, founder and director of Medicine Man Gallery.

This humble giant will be remembered for shaping the perceptions of multiple generations of art lovers. As Trudy Hayes, former director at Overland Gallery, states, “Ed is an icon of the art world in every sense.”

I, all of us, remember him not only for his artistic genius but also for his generous and gentle spirit — a true embodiment of greatness. It is impossible to overstate his impact on our art world. Just like the title of his beautiful book authored by Donald J. Hagerty, Ed is now, truly, Beyond the Visible Terrain. He leaves behind a legacy that is beyond measure.

Godspeed, dear friend.

Gratefully,
Tim Newton

“One of the things that fascinates me most is the translucence of the petals.”
— Artist Ed Mell