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Kenn Backhaus
The 22nd Annual American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition, September 9—December 12, 2021, was hosted this year at Gallery 1516 in Omaha, Nebraska. The private opening and award’s ceremony took place at the gallery on September 8 for Gallery members and AIS members and guests. The annual exhibit featured approximately 175 juried paintings by some of the top contemporary impressionist painters in the country.
AIS Master, Charles Warren Mundy, was this year’s awards judge. C. W. Mundy made brief remarks and together with AIS President/CEO, Debra Joy Groesser, presented the awards. The AIS juried exhibitions are made up of three distinct level categories, Master Members, Signature Members and Associate Members. This year’s prestigious Neys Founders Award for the top Master category was awarded to AIS Master Artist, Kenn Erroll Backhaus, for his painting entitled Essex Interior. The painting was created through impressionistic brushwork depicting shape, form, value and color of this somewhat chaotic, but a dynamic composed interior of a working boat repair shop. The captivating vantage point, subtle interior lighting along with a compelling light effect streaming through the boat house windows were just some of the crucial elements for Backhaus’ work to be judged as the top award winner in the Master category.
AIS Master, Kenn Erroll Backhaus, resident of Buck County, Pennsylvania, has been a professional artist for almost fifty years. He has earned and holds some of the highest levels in many of the distinguished and recognized art organizations across the country. His efforts have earned him many Best of Show Awards, Collectors Choice Awards and the coveted Artist Choice Award. Backhaus has given back to his chosen profession and has been fostering and teaching art for almost thirty years. He currently is teaching an on-line course through Tucson Art Academy On-Line. His works are represented by the following galleries: Highlands Art Gallery, Lambertville, NJ; Troika Fine Art, Easton, MD; Helena Fox Fine Art, Charleston, SC; Huse Skelly Gallery, Balboa Island, CA; Walls Fine Art Gallery, Sulfur Springs, WV; The Sportsman’s Gallery & Paderewski Fine Art, Charleston, SC, Nashville, TN and Beaver Creek, CO.