Meet Dean Nauman
1919-2019
Let's dive into the fascinating world of Dean Nauman, an artist hailing from the scenic landscapes of South Dakota. With a rich history spanning a century, Dean left an indelible mark through his exquisite paintings and poetry. Known for his exceptional talent as a commercial artist, Dean worked in various mediums like watercolor, guache, air brush, oils, and acrylic to bring his visions to life.
Dean Nauman best described his approach to painting as "restless." Others might call it the ceaseless curiosity of a creative mind. His creative vision is at home with such style and technical concepts as representational, nonobjective, and hard and soft edge. His use of color is strong yet subtle when used with water media wash and vivid and intense with oils and acrylics. His most recent work is hard edged and linear, featuring recognizable objects set against a nonobjective field. While his curiosity roamed over style and technique, subject matter remains closely connected with his environment.
Visual arts for Dean Nauman had been both his vocation and avocation, his business and his relaxation. He was Rapid City's first commercial artist, owning an advertising agency from 1947 to 1971. In 1966, he purchased a local printing company, which, under his guidance, won awards for lithographic print reproductions. For his exceptional contributions to the commercial art field, Dean received the 1982 Silver Medal Award – the first presented by the Black Hills Advertising Federation.
Born and raised in central South Dakota, Mr. Nauman combined his vision of the west with his artistic sensibilities. He skillfully translated his mental images into his media using the techniques he learned during his graduate work at the Chicago Art Institute. Dean Nauman is a visual arts explorer, embodying the spirit of creativity that inspires us all to appreciate the world around us.
