Crafoord Auktioner Stockholm presents 15 original works by the American artist Joseph Reno, a prominent figure in the art scene of the Pacific Northwest.
Born in 1943 in Seattle, Washington, Reno is best known for his landscapes and nature-inspired paintings. His artistic journey began early—at just six years old, he created his first mural in crayon, covering an entire wall from floor to ceiling in his home. By fourth grade, he was experimenting with block printing and continued taking art classes throughout the 1950s. During his final year of high school, he won an art competition that granted him the opportunity to study at Cornish College.
As a young man, Reno worked in the mailroom at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City while attending evening classes at the Art Students League. In the 1960s, his military service took him to Germany, where he studied photography, printmaking, and painting. He also created murals at Fort Lewis and studied the works of the great masters in Frankfurt’s museums. After his service, he returned to New York to study under Wil Barnet and Edwin Dickinson before eventually moving back to his childhood home in Seattle, where he had lived since 1951.
Reno’s work is defined by a deep engagement with color, texture, and the organic forms of nature. He believes in the spiritual power of the natural world, a theme that runs through all of his art. “Nature is the key,” he says. “Composition and character are the most important aspects, but they cannot be taught—they must be developed in nature.”
His paintings are held in the collections of institutions such as the Tacoma Art Museum, Henry Art Gallery, Museum of Northwest Art, The Suzzallo Library at the University of Washington, and the Bellevue Art Museum. He also created a 16-foot mural of Golden Gardens Park at Ballard High School, from which he graduated in 1962. Beyond painting and sculpture, Reno has a deep passion for music.
Reno sees his art as his children and the world as his stage. “I will always paint. When I die, I will have a brush in my hand.”
