Wesley Rusnell

Biography

Biography

Wesley Rusnell was born in 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended San Francisco State University and had his first solo show at Lawrence Ferlinghetti's City Lights Books in San Francisco before moving to Taos, New Mexico in 1963.

 

During the late 1960s, the artist painted a series of colorful nudes for which he became well-known. In 1973, he was accepted as Artist-in-Residence in Roswell, New Mexico's one-year-long AiR program. His residence was successful and the artist went on to become the curator of the Roswell Museum and Art Center from 1976-2006.

 

Wesley Rusnell joined his late partner Beth's side in April of 2023, passing peacefully in Taos, NM. Wesley's legacy remains as a treasured, kind-hearted artist of the Taos Moderns group.

 

Schools of Study

San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA

 

Partial List of Collections

Harwood Museum of Art, Taos, NM

 

Selected Awards

New Mexico Associaton of Museums, Hewett Award
Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program, 1973

 

Selected Exhibitions

Bone Springs Art Space, Roswell, NM 2019
Stables Gallery, Taos, NM 2018
City Lights Books, San Francisco, CA

 

Wesley Rusnell at 203 Fine Art

The following exhibition catalogues, published by 203 Fine Art, feature works by Wesley Rusnell. Please follow the links to view the catalogues on Issuu.

Taos Moderns in Santa Fe | 2019

Taos Moderns Return to The Stables Gallery | 2018

Taos Moderns: Bridging the Gap | 2015

 
Works
  • Wesley Rusnell, Seated Yellow Pair, 0.196
    Wesley Rusnell
    Seated Yellow Pair, 0.196
    oil on canvas
    44 x 72 inches
    111.8 x 182.9 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Two Yellow Nudes, ca. 1960s
    Wesley Rusnell
    Two Yellow Nudes, ca. 1960s
    Oil on linen
    61 ½ x 69 ½ inches
    156.2 x 176.5 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Desert Sky Study, ca. c. 1970s
    Wesley Rusnell
    Desert Sky Study, ca. c. 1970s
    Oil on canvas
    22 x 32 inches
    55.9 x 81.3 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Deep January, 1963
    Wesley Rusnell
    Deep January, 1963
    Oil on linen
    29 ½ x 40 inches
    74.9 x 101.6 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Mojave Study, 1972
    Wesley Rusnell
    Mojave Study, 1972
    Oil on canvas
    22 x 24 inches
    55.9 x 61 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Reclining Nude in Orange, ca. 1960s
    Wesley Rusnell
    Reclining Nude in Orange, ca. 1960s
    Oil on canvas
    64 ½ x 54 ¼ inches
    163.8 x 137.8 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Callanis w/ Aurora Borealis
    Wesley Rusnell
    Callanis w/ Aurora Borealis
    watercolor on paper
    11 ½ x 15 ⅝ inches
    29.2 x 39.7 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Chama River Bend - Autumn, 2014
    Wesley Rusnell
    Chama River Bend - Autumn, 2014
    watercolor mixed media on paper
    21 x 26 inches
    53.3 x 66 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Darkening Flight, 2010
    Wesley Rusnell
    Darkening Flight, 2010
    watercolor on paper
    17 ½ x 23 ½ inches
    44.5 x 59.7 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, East - West Freights, 2006
    Wesley Rusnell
    East - West Freights, 2006
    watercolor on paper
    13 x 17 inches
    33 x 43.2 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, El Vuelo Oscuro (Dark Flight) II, 0.2009201
    Wesley Rusnell
    El Vuelo Oscuro (Dark Flight) II, 0.2009201
    mixed media on paper
    16 x 23 ½ inches
    40.6 x 59.7 cm
    Sold
  • Wesley Rusnell, Green Nude, 0.197
    Wesley Rusnell
    Green Nude, 0.197
    acrylic on canvas
    20 x 22 inches
    50.8 x 55.9 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Landscape (2dR16d), 1961
    Wesley Rusnell
    Landscape (2dR16d), 1961
    ink on paper
    11 x 8 ½ inches
    27.9 x 21.6 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Mandala of Nine (1), 2005
    Wesley Rusnell
    Mandala of Nine (1), 2005
    watercolor on paper
    11 ⅝ x 11 ⅝ inches
    29.5 x 29.5 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Mandala of Nine (3)), 2005
    Wesley Rusnell
    Mandala of Nine (3)), 2005
    watercolor on paper
    11 ⅝ x 11 ⅝ inches
    29.5 x 29.5 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Mandala of Nine (4), 2005
    Wesley Rusnell
    Mandala of Nine (4), 2005
    watercolor on paper
    11 ⅝ x 11 ⅝ inches
    29.5 x 29.5 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Mandala of Nine (5), 2005
    Wesley Rusnell
    Mandala of Nine (5), 2005
    watercolor on paper
    11 ⅝ x 11 ⅝ inches
    29.5 x 29.5 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Mandala of Nine (Double-Sided), 2005
    Wesley Rusnell
    Mandala of Nine (Double-Sided), 2005
    watercolor on paper
    11 ⅝ x 11 ⅝ inches
    29.5 x 29.5 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Nude Study, 1960
    Wesley Rusnell
    Nude Study, 1960
    48 x 48 inches
    121.9 x 121.9 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Reflection - Red & Green, ca. 1960s
    Wesley Rusnell
    Reflection - Red & Green, ca. 1960s
    Oil on board
    18 x 24 inches
    45.7 x 61 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Standing Stones, Carnac Brittany, 2006
    Wesley Rusnell
    Standing Stones, Carnac Brittany, 2006
    watercolor on paper
    10 x 15 inches
    25.4 x 38.1 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Still Life, c. 1960s
    Wesley Rusnell
    Still Life, c. 1960s
    Ink, charcoal & lead on paper
    28 ½ x 22 ½ inches
    72.4 x 57.2 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Taos Lightning Series
    Wesley Rusnell
    Taos Lightning Series
    watercolor on paper
    13 ⅝ x 20 ½ inches
    34.6 x 52.1 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Under the Moon, 2007
    Wesley Rusnell
    Under the Moon, 2007
    watercolor collage
    16 ¼ x 20 ¼ inches
    41.3 x 51.4 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, untiled embrace (2dR16a)
    Wesley Rusnell
    untiled embrace (2dR16a)
    ink on paper
    8 ½ x 11 inches
    21.6 x 27.9 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, untiled portrait (2dR16b), 1961
    Wesley Rusnell
    untiled portrait (2dR16b), 1961
    ink on paper
    8 ½ x 11 inches
    21.6 x 27.9 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled (Black and Blue)
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled (Black and Blue)
    mixed media
    13 ¾ x 18 ⅞ inches
    34.9 x 47.9 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled (Black and White)
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled (Black and White)
    ink on paper
    14 x 20 inches
    35.6 x 50.8 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled (Blue and Orange Horizon)
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled (Blue and Orange Horizon)
    11 x 16 inches
    27.9 x 40.6 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled (Blue and Red Horizon)
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled (Blue and Red Horizon)
    11 x 16 inches
    27.9 x 40.6 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled (Green and Yellow Horizon)
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled (Green and Yellow Horizon)
    11 x 16 inches
    27.9 x 40.6 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled (Orange and Yellow Horizon)
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled (Orange and Yellow Horizon)
    11 x 16 inches
    27.9 x 40.6 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled (Stones at Callanais)
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled (Stones at Callanais)
    watercolor and pastel on paper
    11 x 14 inches
    27.9 x 35.6 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, untitled Embrace II (2dR16c), 1961
    Wesley Rusnell
    untitled Embrace II (2dR16c), 1961
    ink on paper
    11 x 8 ½ inches
    27.9 x 21.6 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled Floral
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled Floral
    watercolor and collage on paper
    14 x 20 inches
    35.6 x 50.8 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled Landscape
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled Landscape
    watercolor on paper
    6 x 9 inches
    15.2 x 22.9 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled Landscape
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled Landscape
    watercolor on paper
    6 x 9 inches
    15.2 x 22.9 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Untitled Still Life with Vase
    Wesley Rusnell
    Untitled Still Life with Vase
    mixed media on paper
    18 x 23 ½ inches
    45.7 x 59.7 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, West of Hoy, Evening
    Wesley Rusnell
    West of Hoy, Evening
    11 x 16 inches
    27.9 x 40.6 cm
  • Wesley Rusnell, Reclining Nude on Pink, ca. 1960
    Wesley Rusnell
    Reclining Nude on Pink, ca. 1960
    Oil on canvas
    52 x 61 inches
    132.1 x 154.9 cm
    Sold
  • Wesley Rusnell, Stones at Callanais Under Northern Lights, n.d.
    Wesley Rusnell
    Stones at Callanais Under Northern Lights, n.d.
    Watercolor on paper
    26.0 x 26.0 cm
    Initialed "W R" lower right
    Sold
Exhibitions