H. Cedar Keshet, BFA
Paonia, CO

Heidi “Cedar” Keshet was raised in El Paso, Texas/Sunland Park, New Mexico. She spent many hours in the desert of southern New Mexico, near her family home, on her horse, with a sketchbook in the saddle bag. The light, colors in nature and huge expanse of sky was being infused into her artistic psyche as a young person. Keshet feels a deep connection with the land.

“I paint as a way of distilling the feelings of completeness and joy I experience from the landscapes of the Western United States. When a viewer of my work feels a connection to place, then I have succeeded in my work. I believe that painting the beauty of the West documents and supports these lands. I hope this will move others to recognize these amazing places and advocate for them as well.”

“Deep inside I am an introvert and its often difficult for me to join in the protest at injustice. I do lose sleep every night because I worry about the dire state of the world, our country and mostly The West. I think, for me, my solution to action is painting. I go outside and Plein Air paint and also work in the studio. Many of my paintings are of places that are beautiful. I've committed to painting sights at places that may not be ascetically pleasing but will raise people's attention and get them to think about taking beneficial actions themselves.

It may be subtle but sometimes the back door is the best way to get in.”

Keshet has participated in many exhibitions and fine art shows, including the Rockies West National 2014, Grand Junction and North Fork Valley Overture at the D'Elke Gallery, Denver. She has won many awards including First Place in the Six County Biennial Exhibition, John Michael Kohler Art Center, Sheboygan, WI; First Place in the Annual Show of Western Art, Museum of Western Colorado, Craig,CO; and Second Place in the Red Brick Aspen Plein Air Festival's Quick Draw in Aspen, CO. She has been in galleries in Santa Fe, Chicago, Denver, Glenwood Springs, CO and Paonia, CO. She has exhibited in galleries and museums in Chicago, Denver, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Sedona, Dallas, Craig, Sedona and Milwaukee.

Keshet studied art at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, WI where she earned a BFA.

She is a member of Oil Painters of America and Plein Air Artists of Colorado.

Keshet lives in western Colorado where she creates art, rides equine, hugs trees and dabbles in Biodynamic farming.