Altamira Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ is pleased to present an exhibition of new work by David Frederick Riley January 13-24, 2026.
Please join us for the Artist Reception on Thursday, January 15th from 6-8pm.
Celebrating the Southwest: Reflections on the Light and Color of Arizona
"After moving to the West over a decade ago, I have become captivated by the landscape, animals and history that abound here. My artwork is how I engage with this awe-inspiring land. My aim is to capture some of the West's spirit, strength and grace to share with others." -David Frederick Riley
David Frederick Riley brings a reverence for the Southwest that feels both timeless and contemporary. The light in the American Southwest is known for drama and clarity- when it interacts with the natural environment it creates a vibrant dance of unique hues unlike anywhere else. These effects are particularly dynamic at sunrise and sunset when the regions wildlife ventures out to explore the quiet terrain.
Riley’s new body of work celebrates the wild spirit and saturated light of the region, where those elemental moments when color, form, and emotion converge. In Riley’s hands, the animals of the desert and canyon become vessels of energy and atmosphere, reflecting the Southwest as a place of both mystery and motion. “This new collection is my attempt to capture some of the colors and local wildlife of Arizona. It is saturated, but still ethereal, dreamy and life -like. Each animal has a story for you to discover, but it’s one that will only appear in your mind once you’ve sat and stared back at it. The show lets me reconnect to the Southwest, reconnect to nature and reconnect to myself”, says Riley.
Riley’s background includes the study of Scientific Illustration at the University of Michigan, before transferring to Savannah College of Art and Design for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in illustration. His early influences included turn-of-the-century portrait painters like John Singer Sargent and artists of the golden age of illustration like Rockwell, Leyendecker and NC Wyeth. After many years of working as an illustrator and traditional portrait painter, the influence of the wildlife and history of the West intersected with a desire to create more expressive and gestural art, culminating in the distinctive style Riley is known for today.
Pre-sales are available. Contact the gallery for details, 480-949-1256/ az@altamiraart.com.
