American Dreams, American Dreamers

The Art of Dean Mitchell.

- Krystle Stricklin

For artist Dean Mitchell, the American South is a landscape of memories, some joyful and some difficult, and his tremendous body of work offers viewers a vibrant tapestry of modern American life. Working in watercolor, oil and acrylic, Mitchell’s work covers a range of subjects from urban city scenes and Southwestern landscapes to intimate portraits of family members, friends and strangers who he encountered on the streets or in chance meetings—a veritable cast of fascinating characters. This April, at the Portrait Society’s 21st annual The Art of the Portrait conference, Mitchell will receive the Gold Medal Award for his lifelong pursuit of artistic excellence and extraordinary contributions to the artistic community. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Mitchell about his accomplishments and inspiring body of works. In our conversations, we spoke frankly about the lack of diversity among collectors and in collections, the systemic poverty and discrimination that plagues our country, and how his work often shows honest, yet conflicting, portrayals of “The American Dream” and those who struggle to survive in an ever-changing America.