Curt Walters was born in 1950 in Sedona, Arizona. Although he has traveled and painted all over the world, including his most recent journey to the country of Jordan, impressionist artist Curt Walters has been capturing his impressions of the world’s landscapes on canvas for more than a quarter of a century. While the dynamic landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona, particularly the Grand Canyon, have become synonymous with his name, the diversity of his work also includes a growing body of subjects from North America, Europe and Indonesia. Early on during his life’s work at the Canyon, Walters became frustrated by the pollution build up and realized that his paintings, when viewed over the years, actually documented the deterioration of the air quality over 30 years.
This becomes the basis for a presentation which he has given for various community, government, philanthropic and conservation organizations throughout Arizona, the Colorado Plateau as well as Colorado, Oklahoma, California, Nevada and New York.
He has also been featured on the subject of his art and preservation of the Grand Canyon by the Associated Press (whose article appeared in 40 states), The Arizona Republic, Tribune Newspapers, Arizona Daily Star, Flagstaff Sun, and Prescott Courier as well as selected cities from coast to coast, where Walters shows his work.
As an “ambassador” for Grand Canyon conservation, Walters has also been featured on CBS, NBC, public television and local TV affiliates in various cities.
More than just a spokesperson, Walters has donated his original paintings and images to help raise funds for the Flagstaff-based conservation advocacy group, The Grand Canyon Trust. During the past 10 years, Walters has helped to raise over one-half million dollars for the Trust’s work.
Inviting 14 of his artist contemporaries, Walters created a river rafting, painting, fund-raising trip which resulted in the sale of the paintings at the Prestigious Forbes Magazine Museum/Galleries in New York and California. The sale of paintings from the trip raised over $100,000 for the Trust and gained exposure for Grand Canyon conservation in the important New York and California markets.
In recognition for his lifelong efforts on behalf of Arizona’s National Treasure, Walters was commissioned to paint the commemorative Grand Canyon Painting for the 75th anniversary of Grand Canyon National Park. The painting, a 30”x 60” oil on canvas entitled “National Treasure,” is on permanent display at the park.
Recently, Walters was recognized for his environmental preservation efforts and joined Senator John McCain as a board member of the Grand Canyon Foundation. He has also been commissioned to create the award for the first John Wesley Powell Award which was presented to former Arizona Governor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior, the honorable Bruce Babbitt. The Grand Canyon Trust created the award to recognize significant achievement in Grand Canyon/Colorado Plateau conservation.
In 2002 Walters’ 50” x 80” Grand Canyon painting entitled “Grandeur Besieged” won the Buyer’s choice award at the Prix de West. He also won the Buyer’s Choice award, at Prix de West, in 1998 for “Winter Grandeur Revealed.” He has also won Buyer’s Choice awards at the Autry Museum, Master’s Invitational and at the Artists of America in Denver, Colorado.
Art of the West Magazine said of Walters and the Grand Canyon, “Curt Walters, who many consider the greatest living artist painting this natural wonder today.”
Walters’ paintings are collected by many prominent people from around the world. His paintings are included in many public and private collections. Notable owners include The Forbes Magazine Collection, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Merv Griffin, Robert Urich, Frank and Kathy Lee Gifford, Mikail Baryshnikov, and Frank Borman.
Curt’s works can be viewed at Pitzer’s of Carmel, Carmel, California; Altermann Galleries, Dallas, Texas and Santa Fe, New Mexico; Morris and Whiteside Galleries in South Carolina; and Trailside Galleries in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Autry Museum, and The Great American Artists exhibit in Cincinnati, Ohio, have and will show Walters’ works.