One of the foremost American Impressionists of the 21st century, artist Ben Fenske is known for his bold, energetic brushstrokes and signature use of vivid colors. His figurative paintings, still-lifes and interiors are flooded with warm natural light and dazzle in their wealth of blues, greens and soft violets.
Born in 1978, Fenske grew up in the small rural town of St. Joseph, Minnesota. His interest in art began at an early age. When he was 12 years old, Fenske would spend a minimum of two hours each day drawing and painting, working with charcoal, watercolors, acrylics and pastels. His passion for art broadened in high school, leading him to attend the Minnesota River School of Fine Art at age 18. There, he studied under artists including Joseph Paquet and Darren Rousar.
Following a brief stint as a graphic designer, Fenske studied in Minneapolis at the Bougie Studio, learning figure drawing and cast drawing from artist Peter Bougie. Later, when he was in his early 20s, Fenske decided to go to Florence, Italy, to study painting and drawing at the Florence Academy of Art.
While in Florence, Fenske became inspired by French Impressionism of the 19th and 20th centuries as well as Old Masters paintings and Russian and Soviet art — notably the works of brothers Aleksei and Sergei Tkachev.
For more than a decade, Fenske divides his time between Sag Harbor, New York, and Italy’s Tuscan hills, where he draws inspiration for his landscapes from the surrounding countryside. In addition to his paintings, Fenske has a considerable portfolio of portrait drawings and nude sketches. He has also delved into figurative sculpture, such as the bronze Wild Boar, which he created with artist Richard Zinon.
Fenske regularly exhibits throughout the United States, including annually at the Grenning Gallery in the Hamptons. In 2016, he participated in the “BP Portrait Award Exhibition” at the National Portrait Gallery in London. He was also named by American Artist magazine as one of the “Best 25 Living Artists” in 2012.
On 1stDibs, find a range of Ben Fenske paintings, drawings and sculptures.
"Model, Astone Studio" Contemporary impressionist oil painting, female nude
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
After studying anatomy and academic painting at the Florence Academy of Art, Ben Fenske took the skills he learned and stepped back, putting his own hand into an academically proport...
Canvas, Oil
"Blue Light Nude, Bea" contemporary impressionist painting of standing muse
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Blue Light Nude, Bea" is a contemporary impressionist oil painting of Fenske's muse, Bea. The first painting of the "Bea Nudes Series" is a loose presentation of brushstrokes that ...
Oil, Linen
$12,000
"Sitting Nude, Bea" 2016 oil painting of nude woman seated in thought, pink hues
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of a nude female figure, sitting upon a bed; chest bent over knees, hand on head, seemingly bored. Hues of pink surround the figure due to decorative fabrics that are...
Oil, Linen
"Pink Skirt" impressionist oil painting of woman sitting holding a book.
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Pink Skirt" is an impressionist oil painting of woman sitting holding a book. Painted from life in his home in Chianti, Italy, his muse, Beatrice, sits on ...
Canvas, Oil
"Floral Sheets" contemporary impressionist painting of resting nude woman
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Floral Sheets" is a contemporary impressionist painting of a resting nude woman. A nude figure lies on her back on a bed. Colorful textiles surround her...
Oil
$9,500
H 17.25 in W 21.25 in
Charles P. Gruppe, "The Brass Bowl, " Interior Figure Painting with Woman
Located in Rockport, MA
Painting size without frame: 17 1/4" x21 1/4" Painting size with frame: 23" x 27" Painting is signed lower left corner. An elegant interior figure painting by Charles P. Gruppe dep...
Oil, Board
Nude Sitting
By Howard Rogers
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork "Sitting Nude" c.1990, is an oil painting on hardboard panel by noted American artist Howard Rogers, b.1932. It is signed at the lower right corner by the artist. The artwork (panel) size is 8.85 x 11.85 inches, framed size is 17.75 x 21 inches. Framed in original wooden gold and grey frame, with fabric liner and gold bevel. It is in excellent condition, the frame have very small minor restorations, practically invisible. About the artist: Howard Rogers wanted to be an artist for as long as he could remember. "I had no idea what an artist was when I was a kid," he laughs. "But I had a distant cousin who had gone to art school and I saw some of his drawings. They really impressed me." Born and raised in San Diego, California, Rogers now focuses on the future: "I kind of enjoy today and tomorrow and to heck with yesterday." While in high school, Rogers took some art classes and served as an apprentice sign painter, eventually becoming a journeyman. He was also a member of his high school track team, competing in the high jump, the hurdles and cross-country, as well as doing some bike racing. Following a stint in the Army, he began training for the Olympics in bike racing, trying out in 1948, 1952 and 1956. Today, "I ride a stationary bike in front of my easel three times a week." After trying out for the 1956 Olympics...
Oil
Mid Century Nude Study
Located in Soquel, CA
Beautiful oil painting of nude study titled "The Red Table Cloth" by Bay Area, California artist Shirley Loyst (American, b-1928), circa 1960. Exhibition...
Canvas, Oil
Repose in Green, Oil Painting
By McGarren Flack
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
A nude woman reclines, bathed in soft light against a dark green backdrop. Subtle brushstrokes accentuate the contours of her body, creating a sense of depth ...
Oil
Pause, Oil Painting
By Lisa Nielsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist Comments
More and more I love to experiment with abstraction. It's amazing how realism with some abstraction somehow looks more true than when rendered using just real...
Oil
$399Sale Price|20% Off
H 20 in W 16 in D 1 in
Mid Century Figure Study, Standing Woman with Plants
By Genevieve Rogers
Located in Soquel, CA
A beautiful mid century nude figure study of a red haired woman standing with plants by California artist Genevieve Rogers (American, 1904-1984). Unsigned, but acquired with a collec...
Oil, Laid Paper
Faun`s rest, 70x80cm, oil on canvas
By Tatiana Levchenko
Located in Yerevan, AM
Faun`s rest, 2021, 80x70 cm
Canvas, Oil
$1,350Sale Price|25% Off
H 35.44 in W 31.5 in
Faun`s sweet dream, 90x80cm, oil on canvas
By Tatiana Levchenko
Located in Yerevan, AM
Faun`s sweet dream, 2021, 90x80 cm
Canvas, Oil
Faun`s rest, 70x80cm, oil on canvas
By Tatiana Levchenko
Located in Yerevan, AM
Faun`s rest, 2021, 80x70 cm
Canvas, Oil
Man 1, 120x55cm, oil on canvas
By Tatiana Levchenko
Located in Yerevan, AM
Man 1, 2021, 120x55 cm
Canvas, Oil
$1,350
H 31 in W 24 in D 2 in
Mid Century Female Nude Figure, American Impressionist, Signed 24x18
By Jon Blanchette
Located in Soquel, CA
Female nude figure at the beach by listed artist Jon Blanchette (American, 1908-1987). Presented in a wooden frame. Signed "Jon Blanchette" verso. Image size, 24"H x 18"W. Jon Blan...
Masonite, Oil
$2,200
H 25 in W 21 in D 1.25 in
Seated Female Nude Figure, American Impressionist Oil on Canvas
By George Wishon
Located in Soquel, CA
Seated Female Nude Figure in Oil on Canvas Beautiful modern impressionist figure painting of a seated nude woman by George Wishon (American, 1937-2005). The two-toned light blue and...
Canvas, Oil
$6,715
H 20.48 in W 29.53 in D 1.97 in
American Oil painting on Canvas, a reclining odalisque Nude by Frederick Vezin
By Frederick Vezin
Located in Gavere, BE
Oil painting on Canvas, a reclining odalisque Nude 20Th Additional Info: Title: reclining odalisque nude Medium: original oil on canvas Signature: Signed lower right Provenance: pr...
Gold Leaf
Faun`s rest, 70x80cm, oil on canvas
By Tatiana Levchenko
Located in Yerevan, AM
Faun`s rest, 2021, 80x70 cm
Canvas, Oil
"Bathsheba" Oil Painting
By Clyde Steadman
Located in Denver, CO
Clyde Steadman's "Bathsheba" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts an impasto painting of a nude female model in an interior setting.
Oil, Panel
Sold
H 43.3 in W 62.99 in
”Bathers (Inspired by Plastov)” figurative oil painting; two women on beach
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting by contemporary painter Ben Fenske, a seascape set in Sag Harbor, The Hamptons. Painted en plein air amongst the elements of wind, sun, and sea salt in the air. Fensk...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 47.2 in W 39.4 in
"Beach" Impressionist painting of nude woman collecting shells on a beach
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Beach" is a figurative and impressionist painting of a woman collecting shells on a beach. Ben Fenske (b. 1978), although a native of Minnesota, has been working and living in Flor...
Linen, Oil
Nude, Window
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An impressionistic painting of a nude figure standing in contrapposto, facing away from the viewer. Ben Fenske (b. 1978) although a native of Minnesota, and has been working and li...
Linen, Oil
Bedroom
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of a nude woman, sleeping cozily in the daytime. The open window beams light from a bright and sunny day. Colors vibrate through brushstrokes on the canvas, emanating...
Oil, Canvas
Light Through the Window
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Painted from life, a nude woman sits on the edge of a bed. Arms raised over her head, her fingers fix her hair. Natural light cascades in from a sun-filled window. Colorful printed f...
Canvas, Oil
Sold
H 35.4 in W 43.3 in
"Daydream" contemporary impressionist painting, reclining nude at rest, colorful
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of a nude woman, sleeping cozily in the daytime. A nude figure sleeps curled up on a bed adorned with printed textiles. The open window beams light from a bright and ...
Oil, Canvas
Red Shirt
By Ben Fenske
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An oil painting of Fenske's muse, "Bea" standing in their bedroom, pulling a shirt over her head. Light comes through an open window from behind, as well as from the right above the ...
Oil, Canvas