Ron Rencher

Born in 1952 in St. George, Utah, Ron Rencher recognized early in life that art would play a defining role in his future. He spent his childhood summers on his family’s ranch, the Broken Arrow, located in the Pine Valley Mountains of southwestern Utah. These formative years in a rugged and inspiring landscape fostered a deep appreciation for the West—its light, its land, and its stories.

In 1987, Ron left ranch life behind and moved to Taos, New Mexico, seeking immersion in its rich cultural, historical, and natural environment. Though he no longer resides there, Taos profoundly shaped his artistic vision. The culture and community of Taos Pueblo remain present in many of his paintings, serving as a tribute to his time in northern New Mexico.

Working en plein air for most of his career has cultivated a loyalty to nature’s truths. These truths always find a place in Ron’s paintings, bringing into them a degree of authenticity of light, atmosphere, and their effects on the landscape and the figures and animals that inhabit it.

He earned a BA degree from Southern Utah University and furthered his education through workshops with Ned Jacob, and Dan Gerhartz.

His artistic accomplishments include receiving the Artist’s Choice Golden Thunderbird Award for Best Group of Paintings at the Maynard Dixon Country Show. His work has been featured in numerous national art publications and included in notable books such as Art of the National Parks: Historic Connections, Contemporary Interpretations (Fresco Publications) and Painters of Utah’s Canyons and Deserts (Gibbs Smith Publishing). Collectors include Sam and Diane Stewart, the Utah State Art Collection, University of Kansas, to name a few.

Perfection may be elusive, but striving for it is the force that moves him to higher achievement. Being accepted into The Cowboy Artists of America in 2024 is a culmination of forty years of hard work and the highest honor and achievement of association in his career. He is an emeritus signature member of The Plein Air Painters of America. Ron and his wife and fellow artist Carlene Reeves make their home and studio in Hurricane, Utah