Kenn Backhaus

Born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin in 1951, Kenn spent much of his childhood on the family farm near Burnett, Wisconsin. His fondness for nature became the catalyst for his art. Kenn’s parents encouraged his artistic education and following High School, he attended Layton School of Art in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduation from Layton in 1973, he embarked on his professional career in Design and Illustration. As a commercial designer and illustrator Kenn received many awards at both local and national levels, which included acceptance in the Annual Society of Illustrators Show in New York. Although Kenn took pride in his commercial successes, his heart always belonged to the fine art of outdoor painting.

With developing interest in the historic Plein Air style of painting, Kenn decided in 1984, to devote more time to his passion for painting and the love of the outdoors. He found that capturing true color, value and the mood of a subject was best done on location or through direct observation. His passion for painting has broadened his subject matter to include not only landscape, but also figurative, portrait, still life and wildlife.
Kenn’s works have been juried into many shows across the country, including the Oil Painters of America National Shows. His works have received many awards including an Award of Excellence in the 1998 Regional Oil Painters of America Show, Arlington Heights, IL, 1999 Finalist winner The Artist Magazine, a Best of Show in the 1999 Invitational American Plains Artist Show, Midland, Texas, the Tara Best Landscape award in the 2003 Oil Painters of America National Show, Taos, New Mexico and the Fredrix Artist Canvas, best landscape award in the 2004 Oil Painters Of America National Juried Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington.
Kenn is a Signature Member of both the Oil Painters of America and the Plein-Air Painters of America. He also served as President of the Plein-Air Painters of America from the year 2000 through 2001.
In August of 2004 Kenn joined two other artists, Matt Smith of Arizona and Jean LeGassick of Nevada on a painting trip, riding horses and packing gear into the Montana Wilderness. Their trip was part of an educational TV series by PBS that documented various artists practicing the traditions of plein air painting in diverse locations and seasons across our most beautiful America.
Kenn was one of fifty artists selected from across the country to participate in a traveling museum show titled “FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA”. The exhibit opened at the Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA during the spring of 2004 and will travel across the country to various museums through 2006. The traveling exhibit is scheduled to conclude in 2006 at the Scottsdale Artists’ School in Scottsdale, AZ.

Invitational & Juried Museum Exhibitions & Gallery Shows
2004 “From Sea to Shinning Sea” The Haggin Museum Stockton, California
2004 “Plein-Air Painters of America, 19th Annual Exhibition and Sale, Caesars Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
2004 Oil Painters of America, National Juried Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, Washington
2003 “Plein Air from Coast to Coast” Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT
2003 “The Images of Crystal Cove Invitational Exhibition”, Alliance to Rescue Crystal Cove, Crystal Cove, CA
2003 “Catalina Reunion Show” Society for the Advancement of Plein Air Painting, Avalon, CA
2003 “Impressions with Brush and Eye” Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, California
2003 Oil Painters of America, National Juried Exhibition, Nichols Taos Fine Art Gallery, Taos, New Mexico
2003 “Glories of the Sonoran Desert” The Plein Air Painters of America, Desert Caballeros Western Museum, Wickenburg, AZ
2003 “The Allure of Light” The Plein Air Painters of America, Eleanor Bliss Center for the Arts, Steamboat Springs, CO
2003 “Plein Air 2003” Tucson Plein Air Painters’ Society, Inc. Tucson, Arizona
2002 “Recent Works” Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, California
2002 Oil Painters of America, National Juried Exhibition, Hilligoss Galleries, Chicago, Illinois
2001 “Recent Works” Debra Huse Gallery, Balboa Island, California
2001 “Sierra Pack Trip Show” Pogan Gallery, Lake Tahoe, California
2000 “Plein Air San Antonio Invitational”, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, Texas
2000 “Holiday Parade”, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, Texas
2003 “American Miniatures”, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
2002,2001 “American Miniatures”, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, Arizona “American Miniatures”, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
2000 “American Miniatures”, Settlers West Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
1999 -2004 “Laguna Beach Invitational Plein Air Competition and Show”, The Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA
2000 “Plein-Air Painters of America, Recent Works”, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
1999 “Plein-Air Painters of America, Recent Works”, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2000 “5th Anniversary Gala Celebration”, Galerie Gabrie, Pasadena, CA
2000 “Invitational Show”, Ann Hughes Fine Art, Dallas, TX
1999 “ Art Of the Animal Kingdom IV”, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont
1999 “American Plains Artist Invitational Show”, Midland, Texas
1999 “Invitational Plein Air Show and Sale”, Tucson, Arizona
1999 “Impression-aire Show and Sale”, La Quinta Arts Association, La Quinta, California
1996 – 2003 The Plein Air Painters of America Sale and Exhibition, Catalina Island, California
2000 Plein-Air “Spontaneity of the Landscape” Two-Person Show, Art Access Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
1999 Solo Exhibit, Art Access Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
1998 Solo Exhibit, Art Access Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
1997 The Plein Air Painters of America Regional Show, California Heritage Art Gallery, San Francisco, California
1997 “Women, the Artist View”, Invitational Show, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
1997 “Wildlife Art/ A Tribute to Owen Gromme”, Invitational Group Show, The Beaver Dam Area Art Association, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
1996 “Beaver Dam Arts Association Invitational Group Show”, Beaver Dam Area Arts Association, Beaver Dam, WI
1995 “En Plein Air Show” Delind Fine Art, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
1992 “Gold Room” Invitational Annual Wildlife Show, Easton Waterfowl Festival, Easton, Maryland
1991 “Gold Room” Invitational Annual Wildlife Show, Easton Waterfowl Festival, Easton, Maryland
1990 “Gold Room” Invitational Annual Wildlife Show, Easton Waterfowl Festival, Easton, Maryland
1990 “Winter in the Midwest” Invitational Six Person Show, West Bend Art Museum, West Bend, WI
1990 “Regional Juried Show” John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Kohler, Wisconsin
1988 “American National Miniature Show” Laramie, Wyoming
1987 “American National Miniature Show” Laramie, Wyoming
1986 “Four Person Show” West Bend Art Museum, West Bend, Wisconsin

Kenn has strong feelings about giving back to the art profession. As an instructor he is able to share his knowledge through Artist Workshops that he has taught at across the country.
Art in the Aspens, Pueblo, Colorado
Academy Art Museum, Easton, Maryland
Balboa Island Plein Air Workshops, Balboa Island, California
Charleston Artist Guild, Charleston, South Carolina
Coco Beach Plein Air Workshop, Coco Beach, Florida
Hilton Head Art League, Hilton Head, South Carolina
Hudson River Valley Art Workshops, Greenville, New York
Kenn Backhaus Workshops, Prescott, Arizona
The Main Street Art Center, Lake Zurich, Illinois
The Plein-Air Painters of America Workshops: Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, Vermont; Catalina Island, California; Wickenburg, Arizona; Old Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT
Sara-Britt Arts, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, Arizona
Willow Wisp Farm Studios, North Carolina
Willow Creek Farm Workshops, Paso Robles, CA

Professional Affiliations
Plein-Air Painters of America – Signature Member, Past President 2000-2001 http://www.p-a-p-a.com/
Oil Painters of America – Signature Member http://www.oilpaintersofamerica.com/

Publications and Books
2004 December, Plein Air Magazine
2004 July, Southwest Art Magazine
2004 June, American Artist Magazine
2004 From Sea to Shining Sea, A Reflection of America, Book
2003 Enchanted Isle, A History of Plein Air Painting in Santa Catalina
2002 Spring, Persimmon Hill Magazine
2000 September/October, Wildlife Art Magazine
1997 North Light Books, Best of Wildlife Art, Book