Statement

My current creative life is rooted in the desert Southwest, where I’m part of a vibrant community of artists. I greatly admire contemporary perceptual painters, and much of my work grows out of the experience of painting from observation including the figure, landscape, interior and still life.

When working outdoors, I respond directly to shifting light, weather, and time. The unpredictability of the environment keeps me present. I show up without fixed expectations and let the painting develop from what’s happening in the moment.

In the studio, the pace slows and the process becomes more intentional. Whether working from models, references, or imagination, I approach the painting with a more structured, design-focused mindset. I enjoy refining color harmonies, pre-mixing palettes, and exploring composition, guided by both historical and contemporary influences.

Bio

Kris Rehring is a figurative oil painter whose work has been exhibited nationally. She is a multi-award recipient, including being named a semi-finalist in the Art Renewal Center’s 18th International Salon. Rehring has served as a lecturer at the University of Tennessee’s School of Art and Architecture.

She holds an MFA in Graphic Design from the University of Tennessee and a BS from the University of Miami. She studied representational painting at the Jerusalem Studio School’s Summer Art School and Residency in Civita Castellana, Italy. While in Knoxville, she founded and managed Studio 2515, a shared artist workspace and community.

Rehring currently lives and works in Tucson, Arizona, where she continues her studio and plein-air practice throughout the desert Southwest.

krisrehring.com