Altamira Fine Art in Jackson Hole, WY is pleased to present a two-artist exhibition with new work by Dyana Hesson and Jennifer Johnson August 25- September 8, 2026.
Please join us for the Artist Reception on Friday, August 28th from 5-7pm.
Postcards from the West
“When I enter the landscape of the west, and love it as I do, it feels natural to want to share it with others. It’s human nature to share our stories; to pass along what we’ve seen, learned, and experienced.” – Dyana Hesson
“I love the idea of taking something as simple as an old National Park postcard or poster and making it large and powerful. From across the room, the paintings feel graphic and simple, but when you get closer, you see all the texture and layers in the surface. I want to bring back a feeling or a memory of being in these incredible places.” -Jennifer Johnson
Celebrated artists Dyana Hesson and Jennifer Johnson come together in a new two artist exhibition highlighting the beauty and wonder of American frontier: the history, flora and fauna of the western landscape, iconic national parks and Americana. Each artist brings their distinct style to the exhibition, with two bodies of work acting as little windows or calling cards of evocative western imagery. “Postcards are also such an easy way to collect memories along the way. You bring one home from a trip, and years later that little image can take you right back there. That's really what these paintings are for me. They're my own oversized postcards- iconic images of the animals and places in the West that have stayed with me all these years.”, Jennifer Johnson says. Johnson loves experimenting with her surfaces and explores several new techniques in this latest body of work. Using plaster, molding paste, cheesecloth, and a range of unexpected tools, the process has become much more physical and unpredictable- at times taking her paintings in a very different direction than originally planned. “I think my favorite part is when I stop following the plan and the painting takes on a life of its own.”, she says.
Dyana Hesson is known for her vibrant large-scale oil paintings and each work is rooted in lived experience, the plants and flowers she paints are all discovered first-hand through hikes, fieldwork and restoration efforts. “I am, by nature, a curious person, especially when it comes to nature and history. New discoveries send me down a rabbit trail of research and understanding. The work I’ve created for this show explores native plants and places I’ve discovered in Wyoming over the course of a decade. These compositions have been waiting to be painted, and it feels good to flesh them out. The Wyoming landscape is a generous place.”, Hesson says. Her signature style, characterized by thin layers of paint and a luminous focal point set against minimalist backgrounds, strike a contemporary note and accentuate the artists deep reverence for her subjects. Her hope is that collectors feel a sense of wonder, joy, curiosity and rest from her work.
Both artists share a deep love of exploring the West and a passion for sharing beauty with others. Postcards from the West is a testament to the many wonders of the region and the various ways we can communicate through art and pass along not only stories and information but also capture the emotive qualities of a beloved place.
Dyana Hesson is a Master of the Southwest award winner, Master Signature member of American Women Artists, and a founding member of the Art on the Wild Side art exhibit program at the Phoenix Zoo. She has work in the permanent collection of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, Mayo Clinic Phoenix Campus, Barrows Neurological Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Phoenix Sky Harbor Museum. Her latest book The Art of Wildflowers was recently published by Arizona Highways. Hesson lives in Mesa, Arizona with her husband Randy, daughter Sydney and Jack Russell terrier, Beau.
Jennifer Johnson is a contemporary Western and wildlife artist known for her distinctive oil paintings that bridge tradition and modern design. For nearly two decades, she has developed a strong following for work that blends the nostalgia of vintage Americana with a bold, contemporary sensibility—equally at home in refined modern interiors and classic Western spaces. Johnson is the recipient of numerous awards, including Best of Show, Artist’s Choice, and Jury’s Choice, and her work has been featured in over 20 national publications. In 2017, she was inducted into the prestigious CM Russell Skull Society of Artists. Her paintings are held in permanent collections including the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and the The Wort Hotel, and she regularly participates in major Western art exhibitions across the country.
Pre-sales are available. Contact the gallery for details, 307-739-4700/ connect@altamiraart.com.
