KEN DAGGETT Solo Exhibition; Shifting Landscapes Opens At Meyer Gallery

Taos painter Ken Daggett has spent more than 20 years capturing the light and landscape of Northern New Mexico en plein air. His expressive paintings reveal the rural beauty of the southwest, particularly scenes near Taos and Abiquiu, a region that has captivated artists for more than a century. 

This spring, Daggett presents over 15 new paintings for his solo exhibition, kicking off Meyer Gallery’s annual show series in Santa Fe. The exhibition opens with an artist reception on Friday, April 29th from 5-7pm. 

Daggett embarks on a new painting adventure nearly every day of the year - rain, snow, or shine - interpreting the shifting landscapes before him with rich color and texture. His determination to paint on site despite the high desert’s often harsh elements is met with a lighthearted approach: “I’m still painting away and having fun – pursuing my life’s dream,” he says of creating his latest work. “What could be better than that?”

Even after two decades Daggett has yet to tire of his subject matter, which presents itself in new ways each time he comes before it, palette knife in hand. For his 2022 show, Daggett offers fresh interpretations of the Rio Grande Gorge, Ghost Ranch, Taos and the surrounding area, presenting unique vantage points and new color harmonies. “I try not to be too tight or exact – I want to get my impression,” he says of his on-site painting process. “You can’t always find the perfect scene and I don’t want to – it’s about finding the right composition.”

Daggett worked as an architectural illustrator in Southern California before he moved to Taos in 2001, which coincided with his shift to painting full time. He now lives in a quiet location outside of town with 360-degree views of the landscape, offering daily influence and motivation for his art. Apart from the land, Daggett finds inspiration in the work of early Taos artists such as Victor Higgins and Ernest Blumenschein, carrying on the legacy of these historic painters with a contemporary voice.