About Todd Klippenstein

Klippenstein's interest in art began in pre-school, when he became interested in figurative drawing and geometrics. The hard work and discipline of growing up on a cattle ranch, coupled with the local Indian culture of the Lakota Sioux, influenced Klippenstein's first original works in oil painting and sculpture. Under the tutelage of Barb Hallberg, he won top honors in his first Juried show in Hot Springs, South Dakota at age 15. In the following year, 1983, he won first place in the West River Art Show. In 1982, he began showing and selling his artwork at the Sandstone Gallery in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Klippenstein has been showing and selling his works for over 30 years.

His first public works project involved working with several artists on a large mural for the Handicapped program of Hot Springs. In 1984 he created two more murals, in the town of Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania.

Klippenstein began his second apprenticeship in 1985 under master carver Al Walter. Walter was a master stone carver, forger, architect and wood carver. Additionally, Walter was in charge of all restoration work done on the Bryn Athyn Cathedral. Working under Walter, encouraged Klippenstein to continue his Fine Art Studies in two and three-dimensional form. Along with his high school academic studies, he traveled into Philadelphia every week for figurative studies.

Our lives are rich in layers and texture. With all of my work, in jewelry, sculpture or painting, I strive to create works that are visually and symbolically layered. Similar to a book, with its many pages, I believe works of art have their own pages; visually written in a way that allows the viewer to continually see new things, each day. 

"Providing reflections of who we are - deep within our core - is to me the process of creating something beautiful and sacred."

In my process of creating, I spend a great deal of time reading, looking at images in nature, countless rough drawings and pages of notes. If it's figurative work I'm doing, then I study in detail all of the changing shapes in the pose I'm preparing to do. I put sketches, photos and written words up all around my studio. I immerse myself in the process. When I feel completely connected to the direction I want to go, I tear down all of my images and make my space clean and open; then I am in a space where I feel that I am just standing still and watching something wonderful happen. Often, when I go to the studio the next day, I don't know how such a beautiful thing was created. I just stand there in honor of the great presence I feel standing beside me.

In my recent works, I strive to minimize my own input and rely on divine points of connection. Working more as a facilitator enables me to create works that transcend my own abilities. 

This process allows me to unfold energetic paintings

that are emotively layered. Beyond the main images

in my paintings are sub-images of vessels, guides, 

gateways and weavings of lines that connect us to

our own inner core.

Sometimes works of art are best described by those

who make connections with the paintings. One of my

collectors wrote the following:

"...it was your recognition of the undefinable,

"spiritual" source from which your work comes."

Beyond creating works of balanced color and composition, I believe a painting can create a connection with the viewer that allows them to

find connections to the core of who they are - the Essence of their Being.

1992-1994 Portland State University, Portland, OR 

Bachelor of Science

Degree in Sculpting

1991  Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland, OR

Portland Art Museum

Studies in Gestural Drawing and Figurative Painting

1989-1990 Chadron State College, Chadron, NE

Studies in Painting and Sculpting

1986  Colorado Institute of Art, Denver, CO

Studies in Graphic Art and Design

1985  Studies in Clay Sculpture in Philadelphia, PA

1978-1983  Barb Hallberg - Hot Springs, South Dakota

 Studies in drawing and oil painting

1985  Al Walter - Bryn Athyn, Pennslyvania

Studies in Stone Carving

1993     Bernado Lopez - Washington State (originally from Bogota, Columbia)

Studies in figurative work, mold making and patina work

2002   Robert L. Smith - Madrid, NM 

Studies in Abstract Painting

2012  Robert Hazelton

Studies in fine art jewelry; setting precious gems, wax carving, mold work

2001

Pasatiempo,The New Mexican's Weekly Magazine of Arts,
Entertainment & Culture, Featured artist in gallery show openings section
 

Channel 7 News, New Mexico, 

Focus story on the Santa Fe art market, featuring artwork at Horizon Gallery

2002  

Channel 7 News, New Mexico, Special Feature story on the places to visit on the Turquoise Trail, featuring the works and studio of Todd Klippenstein

KVII-TV, Pro news 7 (ABC affiliate), Texas, Special Feature story on artist's works in acrylic and sculpture

'Essential Guide', Santa Fe, New Mexico

'Gallery Guide', Santa Fe/Northern New Mexico

2003

'The Central New Mexico Advocate' Front page featured artist

2004-2005

'Collectors Guide', Santa Fe/Albuquerque/ Northern New Mexico

1990 

First Place Spring Show - two dimensional division - Chadron, Nebraska

First Place Spring Show - three dimensional division - Chadron, Nebraska

1983 

First Place Hot Springs Art Council Show - Hot Springs, South Dakota

First Place West River Art Show - Rapid City, South Dakota

2006 Creation of Sculpture Garden for Chumani Gallery

1994 'Form Giving Birth to Form' - School of Business and     Education, Portland Oregon

1986 Mural Project - Denver, Colorado

1984 2 Landscape Mural Projects -16 X 50 feet & 16 X 70 feet    Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania

1983 Landscape Mural Project - The Handicapped of Hot     Springs Hot Springs, South Dakota

2020 Chumani Gallery-- Madrid, New Mexico

2019 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2018 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2017 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2016 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2015

2020 Chumani Gallery-- Madrid, New Mexico

2019 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2018 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2017 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2016 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2015 Chumani Gallery-- Madrid, New Mexico

2014 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2013 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2012 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2011 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2010 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2009 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2008 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2007 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2006 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

BGMS-Tucson, Arizona featured works: landscapes and jewelry

Indigo Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

Art Expo – New York

2005 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

Talking Bridge-New Mexico; group show 

Indigo Gallery – One Man Show

2004 Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

Indigo Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2003 Indigo Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

Walkerfineart – Denver, Colorado

Color and Light – Madrid, New Mexico

Chumani Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

Denver Design Center, Denver, Colorado

Indigo Gallery – Madrid, New Mexico

2002 Horizon Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Oval Gallery - Albuquerque, NM

Chumani Gallery - Madrid, New Mexico

2001 Munson Gallery - Group Show

Oval Gallery - Albuquerque, NM

Horizon Gallery - One Man Show

2000 Windsor Betts Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Chumani Gallery - Madrid, New Mexico

1999 Windsor Betts Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Chumani Gallery - Madrid, New Mexico 

1994 Saks Fifth Avenue - Spring Show, Portland, Oregon

1993 Cedar Mountain Drums - Portland, Oregon

1991 Cedona Gallery - San Francisco, California

Corner Gallery - Palo Alto, California

Giorgio Gallery - Berkeley, California

1983 Sandstone Gallery - Hot Springs, South Dakota

First Place – West River Art Show

1982 Sandstone Gallery - Hot Springs, South Dakota