Sean Michael Chavez (Amer., b. 1971), "Companero II", oil on canvas, signed upper left, signed again and titled on the verso

sight: 23 x 23 in., frame: 26 x 26 in.

Provenance: Property from a home in Montgomery, Texas; purchased from Acosta Strong Gallery as a personal commission from the artist

Sean Michael Chavez studied at the Southwest University of Visual Arts, graduating at the top of his class, and began developing his artistic sensibility through frequent visits to Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, where he closely studied works by Winslow Homer, Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, and especially Pierre-Auguste Renoir, whose Dance at Bougival inspired his first efforts as a painter. His early career in advertising, begun before graduation, further strengthened his skills in composition, visual storytelling, and both traditional and digital media, earning him numerous industry awards. Drawing on East Coast Impressionism and his deep connection to the landscapes and culture of the American Southwest, Chavez has developed a contemporary Western style characterized by striking silhouettes, dynamic vaquero portraits, luminous desert landscapes, and vibrant, unexpected color palettes. His work combines an admiration for the Western masters with an innovative, contemporary approach to depicting the rugged beauty, cultural heritage, and enduring spirit of the American West.