Oscar Edmund Berninghaus, born October 2, 1874, was an American artist and founding member of the Taos Society of Artists. He is known for his paintings of Native Americans, and the American Southwest.
Berninghaus, “Resting Horses”, oil on canvas board
Berninghaus, “Mesa”, oil on canvas board
Berninghaus came to fame as an artist in 1899, when he received a commission by the Rio Grande Railroad to produce sketches of the landscapes of Colorado and New Mexico. While in New Mexico, he befriended several artists in Taos, and became captivated by the local Native American culture, and the beautiful landscape. He began returning to Taos every summer, eventually moving there. In 1915, he became a founding member of the Taos Society of Artists. Both images above are part of the Fine Arts Center’s Permanent Collection, on view Tuesday-Sunday, 10a-5p.
