Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ben Bauer draws inspiration from the beautiful landscapes of the Upper Midwest, channeling his love of “recording natural history” into his evocative paintings. Since 2005, his work has been featured in numerous exhibitions across the United States and in collections abroad, including Israel, Mexico, Canada, England, and France. He also has the honor of having a painting in the permanent collection of the Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

In his evocative piece, On Winter Walks — Scandia MN, Bauer invites viewers to discover the beauty in that which is often overlooked. Using the Zorn palette and cold wax medium, he creates a harmonious, tonalist composition that melds natural design with intuition, encouraging viewers to ponder: “Is it snowing now, did it just stop, or is it going to?”

The overwhelming response to On Winter Walks – Scandia, MN on social media has encouraged Bauer to delve even deeper into painting, creating works that evoke the viewer’s senses.

Bauer believes that painting “should use the undefinable urge for the artist to express what they feel and observe, and in return, the viewer should be transported to that space.”