News from Chris

Chris Morel Artist/painter

 J Chris Morel is a landscape artist who skillfully captures the essence of the evolving contemporary West in his paintings. His training as an artist began at Towson University in Maryland, later working as an illustrator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin TX. He began his full-time career as an easel painter in 1988 in Austin. In 1994 Morel and his young family moved to New Mexico discovering his new home and ultimate subject matter in the mountains outside of Taos where he continues to paint to this day. 

Morel finds inspiration and guidance from the legacy of great painters of the area. He excels at discovering moments of light, creating compelling compositions and rendering ordinary sights into extraordinary paintings. His work is represented in Santa Fe by Nedra Matteucci Gallery, Shaun Horne Gallery in Crested Butte CO, Chimayo Trading Company Gallery in Taos NM and Morel Studio Vadito NM.

Morel is represented by:

Chimayo Trading Company in Historic Ranchos de Taos, NM. 

Make sure to visit the gallery when you are in the Taos area. www.chimayotrading.com.

Read an article by Chimayo Trading Company on J. Chris Morel’s art: https://mailchi.mp/c3c19d378f12/chrismorel?e=b96f478519

Nedra Matteucci Gallery, Santa Fe NM   www.matteucci.com

Shaun Horne Gallery  Crested Butte CO www.shaunhornegallery.com 

Morel Studio, Vadito NM, www.morelart.com 575 737 1042

Recent Shows/Awards

2026 Coors Western Art Show Denver CO
2025 Awarded “Master” member status “Plein Air Painters of New Mexico”
2025 “Plein Air Painters of America” Group show Crested Butte CO July 2025
2024 Nedra Matteucci Gallery “Lifetime of Learning” show June 21-July 13
2024 Buffalo Bill Museum Cody WY Patrons Ball
2024 “Small Works Great Wonders” Exhibit…National Cowboy Museum OKC
2023 “Plein Air Painters of America” Couse/Sharp Museum Taos NM Oct 2023
2023 Became Board Member of PAPA “Plein Air Painters of America”.
2023 “Plein Air Crested Butte” Invited Artist, CB Arts Center, August 2023
2023 “AIS American Impressionist Society National Show August 2023
2023 “Oil Painters of America” National Show Charleston SC
2022 “AIS American Impressionist Society” “Best of Show” 2nd Annual AIS Associate Member Online Exhibition.
2022 “Small Works Great Wonders” Exhibit…National Cowboy Museum OKC
2022 “Booth Museum, GA “Plein Air Painters of America” Exhibit and workshop instruction. October 2022.
2022 “Couse/Sharp Foundation “La Luz de Taos” Exhibition and Fundraiser
2022 “Nedra Matteucci Gallery” All artist show July 15 2022
2022 ”Plein Air Magazine Salon Award for Morel’s painting “Couse House Poppies”
2022 Front Cover “Plein Air Magazine” and Feature article Dec/Jan 2022
2021 “Plein Air Painters of NM” National Show “Best of Artist Members”
2021 “Small Works Great Wonders” Exhibit…National Cowboy Museum OKC 11/2021
2021 “Oil Painters of America” Western Regional Show Wichita KS
2021 “Oil Painters of America” Salon Show, Quinlan Visual Arts Center, Gaine sville GA,
2021 “Oil Painters of America” Spring Showcase Award Winner
2021 Accepted Signature Membership in PAPA “Plein Air Painters of America” group.
2021 “Oil Painters of America” National Exhibit California Center of the Arts, Escondido CA.
2021 “Live with Eric Rhoads” 1/4/2021 Facebook Youtube live interview and painting demo
2021 “Plein Air Today-Outdoor Painter article about painting New England, January 2021
2020 Awarded First Place, New Mexico Plein Air Painters 2020 “Fall Color Passages Contest”
2020 National Cowboy Museum OKC, OK “Small Works Great Wonders Show”
2019 “Small Works Great Wonders Show” National Cowboy Museum OKC, OK
2019 “Nedra Matteucci Gallery” One Man Show June 2019
2018 Oil Painters of America National Exhibit
2017 Oil Painters of America Regional Exhibit
2008-2019 “Small Works Great Wonders Show” National Cowboy Museum OKC, OK
2016 “Nedra Matteucci Gallery” Two Person Show with sculptor Dan Ostermiller June 2016
2016 “New Mexico Magazine annual Artist Calendar, NM Dept of Tourism
2014 “Nedra Matteucci Gallery” One Man Show June 2014
2011 “Founders Award” “Maynard Dixon Country Show
2007 “Best of Show, Golden Thunderbird Award” Maynard Dixon Country Show
2006 “Taos Fall Arts Festival” Featured artist

Publications and articles:

Plein Air Magazine Jan 2022 cover and article, Southwest Art, Western Art and Architecture, Western Art Collector,
Art and Antiques. International Artist, Taos Magazine, North Light Publications Art Instruction Books, Art Journey New Mexico coffee table book. “Fine Art Connoisseur “Santa Fean, New Mexico Magazine” and Taos News Tempo.

Additional awards: 2006 Taos invite Taos Feature Artist and award winner. “Art for the Parks” 2001 Region II Award Winner, Jackson WY and “Plein Air Tucson” 1998

Museum shows:

National Cowboy Museum, Albuquerque Museum of Art, Millicent Rogers Museum, Maynard Dixon Country Invitational, Gilcrease Museum’s American Art in Miniature”.