New Artwork Adorns Kalispell

Now there's art on the outside of our building too. The top piece is by Mark Ogle and the two side pieces are by my late father, Joe Abbrescia.

If you have not yet had the opportunity, stop by the newest art gallery & studios in Kalispell. Now is a great time to make the trip and enter our drawing for a chance to win Ogle or Abbrescia art! Our Grand Opening is on Saturday, April 7, 2012. Two names will be drawn during the week of April 9th. And, like the saying goes... you can't win if you don't play!

The gallery features the artworks of both Mark Ogle and Joe Abbrescia. Abbrescia's work is now represented by his son, Joe Abbrescia Jr. Originals and fine art prints on canvas (giclees) from both artists are available. Another unique feature of this space is that it is also the new home of the Abbrescia Art Restoration Studio. Many interesting things happening in Joe's studio!

Abbrescia Hand Embellished Prints on Canvas

Fine art giclees (canvas art prints) hand embellished by the artist's son, Joe Abbrescia Jr., will soon be available at a new art gallery in Whitefish, Montana. More information coming soon. Stay tuned!

Articles featuring Joseph Leonard Abbrescia (1936-2005), and his work have been in more than 70 publications, including several issues of "Southwest Art Magazine", "Artists of the Rockies and the Golden West", "Western Art Digest" and "Scottsdale Scene Magazine", to name a few.

Among numerous awards received are "Artist of the Year" from the American Royal Western Art Association; "Best of Show" at the Eighth Annual Museum of Native American Cultures Western Art Show and Auction; and most recently Joe was three-time "Best of Show" and two-time "People's Choice" award recipient at the C.M. Russell Auction of Original Western Art in Great Falls, Montana.

Abbrescia Art Museum Exhibit

"Abbrescia's Passion" - Plein Air Paintings of Glacier National Park will be on exhibit April 9 through June 15, 2008 at the Wilding Art Museum located at 2329 Jonata Street, Los Olivos, CA 93441.

Los Olivos is in the beautiful hills of Santa Ynez Valley.

Abbrescia Original Oil Paintings For Sale

Original oil paintings currently for sale at the Abbrescia Fine Art Gallery have been added to our website. They are a mix of paintings currently on consignment and pieces from our private collection.
Click here to view.

Tribute to Abbrescia's Life at Hockaday Museum

The Hockaday Museum offers the show "Abbrescia's Passion - Plein Aire Paintings of Glacier National Park" showcasing the work of artist, Joe Abbrescia, including some paintings that have not previously been exhibited, from June 8 through Sept 11, 2007.
A catered opening reception will be held June 14th from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Artist Mark Ogle will present a tribute to the life and work of Joe Abbrescia at 4:30 p.m. Cellist Lee Zimmerman will perform throughout the evening. The June 14th reception is free to museum members and $10.00 for non-members.
The Abbrescia show is an important one to the Hockaday because the museum's signature focus is the art of Glacier Park and Montana's artistic legacy; and because the work of Abbrescia (1936 - 2005) is rated among international standards for excellence and innovation in color, harmony and design.

Distinctly Montana Magazine, Abbrescia Article, page 34

"Distinctly Montana" magazine published an article in the Spring 2007 edition entitled "To Catch the Majesty - The Art of Joe Abbrescia". The article runs from pages 34 through 43 and is available on newstands now or by subscription online.

The author, Rennan Ricke, interviewed Sue and Joe Jr., last winter for publication in the Spring edition of the magazine.

For all his former students, I'll share an excerpt from the article:

Joe had an individualistic philosophy on art. He understood that style was intensely personal, and he disliked the idea that a student might imitate his style. "You're in control of your own understanding. Put some trust in there," he said to a group of developing students, urging them to take from his teachings what they wanted and mix it into their own style. He tried to guide students, to point them in the right direction instead of teaching them a collection of rules. In fact, in his classes he seemed to consider himself the leading student in a teacherless group. ...He advised students to get rid of their intellectual side when painting, to feel it instead of think it. To Joe, painting was not a series of discrete steps where canvas is sized, followed by laying down the major shapes and finally adding nuance at the end. Painting was a great continuum, where the steps blended and swirled like the oil on the canvas...

Abbrescia's Passion-Plein Aire Painting Exhibit

The Hockaday Museum exhibit entitled: "Abbrescia's Passion" - Plein Aire Paintings of Glacier National Park starts tonight, June 8, 2007 through August 11, 2007, in Kalispell, Montana at the Hockaday Museum.