Russell Gordon

Russell Gordon was born in 1968 in Maryland and began drawing at an early age. Often combining layered symbolism with subtle wit, Gordon constructs each work through carefully applied layers of oil paint and a strong command of light and shadow. Painted directly from life, his compositions invite the viewer into windows of alternate yet convincing realities. Viewers are often reminded of seventeenth-century Dutch vanitas themes that allude to life’s fragility while celebrating its pleasures. His work engages contemporary subject matter within ancient, mythic narratives, resulting in pieces that are both visually captivating and intellectually engaging.

In 1996, Gordon won first prize for still life in the Annual National Open Juried Show sponsored by The Artist’s Magazine. He was the featured cover artist for American Artist in April 2000, and received a Juror’s Mention Award from the Butler Institute of American Art that same year. His work has also been exhibited in the national juried exhibitions of the Allied Artists of America, the American Artists Professional League, and the Oil Painters of America—establishing him as a respected and consistently recognized presence in the world of contemporary realist painting.