One of the foremost American Impressionists of the 21st century, artist Ben Fenske is known for his bold, energetic brushstrokes and signature use of vivid colors. His figurative paintings, still-lifes and interiors are flooded with warm natural light and dazzle in their wealth of blues, greens and soft violets.
Born in 1978, Fenske grew up in the small rural town of St. Joseph, Minnesota. His interest in art began at an early age. When he was 12 years old, Fenske would spend a minimum of two hours each day drawing and painting, working with charcoal, watercolors, acrylics and pastels. His passion for art broadened in high school, leading him to attend the Minnesota River School of Fine Art at age 18. There, he studied under artists including Joseph Paquet and Darren Rousar.
Following a brief stint as a graphic designer, Fenske studied in Minneapolis at the Bougie Studio, learning figure drawing and cast drawing from artist Peter Bougie. Later, when he was in his early 20s, Fenske decided to go to Florence, Italy, to study painting and drawing at the Florence Academy of Art.
While in Florence, Fenske became inspired by French Impressionism of the 19th and 20th centuries as well as Old Masters paintings and Russian and Soviet art — notably the works of brothers Aleksei and Sergei Tkachev.
For more than a decade, Fenske divides his time between Sag Harbor, New York, and Italy’s Tuscan hills, where he draws inspiration for his landscapes from the surrounding countryside. In addition to his paintings, Fenske has a considerable portfolio of portrait drawings and nude sketches. He has also delved into figurative sculpture, such as the bronze Wild Boar, which he created with artist Richard Zinon.
Fenske regularly exhibits throughout the United States, including annually at the Grenning Gallery in the Hamptons. In 2016, he participated in the “BP Portrait Award Exhibition” at the National Portrait Gallery in London. He was also named by American Artist magazine as one of the “Best 25 Living Artists” in 2012.
On 1stDibs, find a range of Ben Fenske paintings, drawings and sculptures.
"Nude Sketch No. 3" early academic figure drawing by Ben Fenske, unframed
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An academic drawing of a female nude figure sitting atop a flat surface. He highlights the body with white chalk. She leans on one arm and the other rests behind her torso. Artist B...
Paper, Charcoal
"Pony and Groom" 2014 oil painting on wood, impressionist sketch, equestrian
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Pony and Groom" is an unframed, oil on wood panel, contemporary impressionist painting. Painted during the 2014 Wellington Winter Equestrian Festival. Center stage, stands a fit, br...
Oil, Wood Panel
$80,000
"Wild Boar" contemporary realist bronze cinghiale sculpture, life-size, Fenske
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
‘Wild Boar’, the striking new bronze sculpture by Ben Fenske and Richard Zinon, vibrantly illustrates the ‘new’ Renaissance currently under way. Ferocio...
Bronze
$10,500
"Fishing Hut" contemporary impressionist oil painting boat house, green and blue
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Fishing Hut" contemporary impressionist oil painting boat house in green and blue hues. An oil painting of a small shack in a marina in rich impre...
Linen, Oil
$12,000
"Sitting Nude, Bea" 2016 oil painting of nude woman seated in thought, pink hues
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of a nude female figure, sitting upon a bed; chest bent over knees, hand on head, seemingly bored. Hues of pink surround the figure due to decorative fabrics that are...
Oil, Linen
"Boats Moored at Secret Beach" 2023 impressionist plein air landscape in NY
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of boats at rest as seen from Secret Beach in Sag Harbor. "Secret Beach" is the name Ben Fenske has given to his favorite painting spot in Sag Harbor, NY. A place he ...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
"Blue Green Sunset and Snow in Florence" two sided painting Fenske color study
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
A panel painting that is painted on both sides—one side an abstract sunset and the other side a snowy cityscape with Florence's famous Duomo in the background. Ben Fenske (b. 1978)...
Oil, Panel
Two's Company, Oil Painting
By Jan Fontecchio Perley
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Two charming Appaloosa foals nuzzle one another in a tender display of friendship. Their speckled coats glimmer under a soft, diffused light. The pale blue ba...
Oil
Justice III
Located in Greenwich, CT
bronze on marble base Edition of 10
Marble, Bronze
Majestic, Oil Painting
By Karen Barton
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A powerful buffalo strides into view, its massive form radiating strength and dignity. In this oil painting, artist Karen Barton captures not only the animal’...
Oil
Williamsburg VA in Spring
By Guy Carleton Wiggins
Located in Milford, NH
A fine spring scene in historic Williamsburg, Virginia with the Governor’s Palace in the background by American artist Guy Carleton Wiggins (1883-1962). Wiggins was born in Brooklyn,...
Canvas, Oil
Feline Good, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
Artist Jeff Fleming captures a cat in its playful nature. Bathed in a soft morning light, this furry tabby frolics in a field of sweet peas, possibly chasing ...
Oil
Pause, Oil Painting
By Lisa Nielsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
More and more I love to experiment with abstraction. It's amazing how realism with some abstraction somehow looks more true than when rendered using just real...
Oil
Untitled
By Bill Nebeker
Located in Palm Desert, CA
"Untitled" is a bronze sculpture by Bill Nebeker. Signed on reverse base "Bill Nebeker CA 6/30". The full size is 23 1/2 x 18 1/4 x 8 1/2 inches. Bill Nebeker is an American artist ...
Bronze
$1,650Sale Price|25% Off
H 31.5 in W 39.38 in
Blue woman, 80x100cm, acrylic, oil, canvas
By Tatiana Levchenko
Located in Yerevan, AM
Blue woman, 2022, 80x100 cm
Canvas, Oil
$14,000
H 28 in W 34.5 in D 2 in
Golf Course, Probably The Country Club, Brookline MA
By Arthur Clifton Goodwin
Located in Milford, NH
A fine landscape of a golf course, probably The Country Club, Brookline, MA by American artist Arthur Clifton Goodwin (1864-1929). Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Goodwin lived an...
Canvas, Oil
Stony Brook
By Paul Bernard King
Located in Milford, NH
A fine impressionist woodland scene with a brook and birches by American artist Paul Bernard King (1867-1947). King was born in Buffalo, New York, and after becoming an established printer, went on to study at the NY Art Students League with Henry S. Mowbray. While a student, he became an illustrator for Life and Harper’s magazines, and went on to become well known for his portraits, landscapes, rural scenes, and illustrations. Oil on canvas, signed lower right, inscribed title on verso stretcher “Paul King, Stony Brook...
Canvas, Oil
Pastoral Landscape
By Edward B. Gay
Located in Milford, NH
A fine pastoral landscape by Irish artist Edward B. Gay (1837-1928). Gay was born in Dublin, Ireland, and emigrated with his to Albany, NY at a very young age as a result of the pota...
Canvas, Oil
Farm in the Mist, Giverny
By Theodore Earl Butler
Located in Milford, NH
An exceptional impressionist landscape of a farm in the mist in Giverny, France by American artist Theodore Earl Butler (1891-1936). Butler was born in Co...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 27 in W 47 in
"Secret Beach, Shadows" 2023 impressionist plein air landscape in Long Island NY
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Secret Beach" is the name Ben Fenske has given to his favorite painting spot in Sag Harbor, NY. A place he can go undisturbed to appreciate and paint the beauty of the East End of L...
Canvas, Linen, Oil
Sold
H 31.5 in W 47 in
Sag Harbor from Secret Beach - 2023 Impressionist plein air painting Long Island
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
A classic secret beach painting from Ben Fenske, but from a different angle, looking into Sag Harbor town on long island. Artist Bio Ben Fenske (b. 1978) although a native of Minne...
Canvas, Linen, Oil