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.
$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
"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
"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
$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
$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
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
Enthroned, Oil Painting
By Jan Fontecchio Perley
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A majestic pronghorn antelope buck sits at the heart of a darkening prairie. The rich, warm tones and subtle background details emphasize the animal’s disti...
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
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
Dawn at the Grand Canyon, Oil Painting
By Crystal DiPietro
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
"For a few brief moments on the south rim, the morning sun lights up the canyon walls like neon while casting blue shadows into its depths," says artist Cryst...
Oil
$4,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 21.75 in W 15.75 in D 1.5 in
Ohlone Mother and Child Walking Through the Santa Cruz Redwoods - Landscape 1930
Located in Soquel, CA
Serene depiction of an Ohlone Mother and Child walking a forest path by Anton Dahl (Swedish-American). Ohlone Mother and child are walking through the North...
Oil, Linen
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
$1,720Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.63 in W 28.63 in D 1 in
" Sunlit Mountains" Majestic Mount Jefferson And Mount Hood Oregon 1930s
By Andrew Dobos
Located in Soquel, CA
" Sunlit Mountains" Majestic Mount Jefferson And Mount Hood Oregon 1930s A well executed oil on linen of two mountain peaks by California and Illinois artist Andrew Dobos (American/...
Linen, 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
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 13.5 in W 16.5 in D 1 in
"Sunset Pt. Lobos, CA" Coastal Landscape in Oil on Linen
By Max Flandorfer
Located in Soquel, CA
"Sunset Pt. Lobos, CA" Coastal Landscape in Oil on Linen Oil painting of a coastal landscape by Max Flandorfer (American, b. 1962). Large trees along a path are at the edge of a cliff overlooking the water. The cliff is covered in green grass. Below, there is a dark blue ocean...
Linen, Oil
$2,887Sale Price|48% Off
H 25 in W 31 in D 2.5 in
Victorian Landscape with Horse and Foal with Cattle in a pasture by Moonlight.
Located in ludlow, GB
Victorian Landscape with Horse and Foal with Cattle in a pasture by Moonlight. Large Framed Oil Painting of Animals gathered together in the Moonlight. An evocative Landscape which is well drawn and nicely executed. "Horse and Foal and Cattle in Pastures by Moonlight" Oil on Canvas (18 by 24 inches) Signed and dated 1899 and Framed in a traditional Impressionist Swept Frame. Charles Augustus Henry Lutyens was a portrait, animal and sporting painter. He was fairly eccentric and indeed named one of his sonsSir Edward...
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