Chris Morel

Chris Morel is a landscape artist living and painting in Northern New Mexico just off the “High Road to Taos” in Vadito NM. For over 30 years Chris has made it his life’s work to honor and paint the unparalleled beauty of his homeland here in NM. This includes, but not limited to the historic northern villages, Taos and the Four Corners region where he draws the inspiration for his work.

Morel skillfully captures the essence of the evolving contemporary West in his paintings. His training as an artist began at Towson University in Maryland, later working as an illustrator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin TX. He began his full-time career as an easel painter in 1988 in Austin. In 1994 Morel and his young family moved to New Mexico discovering his new home and ultimate subject matter in the Sangre de Cristo mountains where he continues to paint to this day. His home and studio are nestled in the beautiful valley of the Rio Pueblo de Picuris in what we locals call “Las Mochas” just south of Taos.

Morel finds inspiration and guidance from the legacy of great painters of the area. He excels at discovering moments of light, creating compelling compositions and rendering ordinary sights into extraordinary paintings. His work is represented in Santa Fe by Nedra Matteucci Gallery, Chimayo Trading Company, Taos NM, Shaun Horne Gallery Crested Butte CO and Morel Studio Vadito NM.