Derek Buckner

Balloons II

2023

American painter Derek Buckner creates powerful cityscapes and suburban scenes that depict the rapid growth of metropolitan centers and the impermanence of the modern world. Rather than depict the grandeur of skylines and views from above, Buckner seems to prefer a perspective from the ground level in his realist works, showcasing the oft-overlooked nooks and crannies that comprise the hidden beauty of a city.

The son of Boston area realist painter Walker Buckner, Derek was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts and attended Vassar College. Buckner later studied at the Art Students League of New York and ultimately earned his BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Most of Buckner's urban depictions aren't meant to depict a particular city or region of the United States — they’re mere archetypes meant to evoke a sense of the true American landscape. And while he's explored many subjects throughout his career, Buckner has had a special relationship with one particular area of New York City — in a range of spectacular oil paintings and watercolors, the artist has focused on creating a visual record of the changes that have taken place on the Gowanus Canal and in its surrounding Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Carroll Gardens and Red Hook for 25 years. 

Buckner has exhibited in New York City and Santa Fe, New Mexico, as well as in Mexico and Italy. He's currently represented by George Billis Gallery and works out of his studio in Brooklyn.

On 1stDibs, find Derek Buckner landscapes, figurative paintings and watercolors.