Bo Bartlett (b. 1955, Columbus, GA) is a renowned American realist painter whose narrative style was shaped by his rural upbringing. While studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts he drew inspiration from various artists and art movements, including works by Andrew Wyeth. Bartlett views painting as a form of discovery where he aims to capture deep emotions that lie in our subconscious. He explains, “my work […] attempts to delve into the mystery of this life. The paintings are sort of visual metaphors or ‘mise en scenes’ for what it feels like to be alive.”
Bartlett has exhibited in many noteworthy institutions, including the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC, the National Arts Club in New York, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC, and MOCA Jacksonville in Florida. His work can be found in museum collections throughout the country including the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Asheville Art Museum, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Denver Museum of Art.
The artist lives and works in Columbus, GA, and Wheaton Island, ME.