Paintings by Chicago’s Brian Ritchard featured April 10-June 14

North Central College will showcase the artwork of Chicago painter Brian Ritchard from April 10 through June 14.

Titled “Turbine Paintings Series,” the free exhibit will be on display in the College’s Schoenherr Gallery at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. The artist will greet visitors at a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 6; complimentary refreshments will be served.

In 2008, Ritchard began a new series of paintings depicting American wind farms, inspired by 17th century Dutch landscapes. These turbine paintings brought Ritchard to a more traditional engagement with art history, while providing a subject that’s both modern and contemporary. These recent works are all steeped in direct observation of actual wind farms spread across the American Midwest.

A Chicago-based artist, Richard has exhibited his paintings in Chicago, New York City, Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Kansas City, Atlanta and in more than 100 public, private and corporate art collections. His work has been published in the New Art Examiner, New American Paintings, Chicago Tribune, New City, The Tampa Weekly Planet, The South Bend Tribune and academic publications.

Ritchard also has been active as a curator, organizing exhibitions for the Northern Illinois University Gallery, Beverly Art Center, Jan Cicero Gallery and others. He has served on various panels and been a visiting artist at numerous institutions, including the University of Notre Dame. He earned his fine arts degree from the University of Chicago and is currently the academic advisor for fine art and art history at Columbia College Chicago. To learn more visit brianritchard.com.

North Central’s 2014-2015 Fine and Performing Arts Season is partially sponsored by season supporters, including BMO Harris, Casa by Charleston, The DuPage Community Foundation, Grant Thornton, J.P. Morgan, Main Street Promenade, Marquette Properties, Monarch Landing, Ryan Hill Realty, U.S. Bank Private Client Reserve, USG and Water Street Development.