Overland’s latest exhibition of work by local artist Janet Eager Krueger is a testament to Texas, its heritage and the beauty found in the state’s rural environment and cultures. On view now at our San Antonio studio, the work offers a vivid celebration of place — exploring the beauty of Texas landscape and life through color, form and subject.
A self-proclaimed “transplanted urbanite,” Janet is no stranger to life on the ranch. Texas to her core, the artist is a San Antonio native and a graduate of Alamo Heights High School. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and went on to earn her MFA from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Later, Janet would go on to marry Texas rancher George Krueger, also a San Antonio native and graduate of Alamo Heights High School. The couple soon moved to George’s ranch near Encinal, Texas, and have lived there for more than 34 years. This move to rural Texas would serve as an important milestone and driver of inspiration for Janet and her work as an artist.
“Over time, I came to see my mission as a painter as both an interpreter and a representative of a remnant society that still exists in rural America,” says Janet. “Life on a ranch en el monte proceeds at a much slower pace. That pace, and this environment, reflects in my general everyday life and observations.
In the past, my work took a turn for the narrative and everything I saw seemed to have a certain mythological resonance. At the time, I felt it was a way to take a new look at the old myth of Texas ranch life. More recently, I find that I have eliminated the human narrative entirely, and that examining the beauty and the solitude of place are sufficient expressions of my presence.”
This notion that painting can serve as a vessel for further expressing natural landscape and beauty is a principal Overland is also familiar with. Our architectural practice is heavily focused on marrying the environmental and built — and in many cases our built work helps further celebrate and integrate the surrounding natural landscape.
Janet’s paintings capture the energy and saturation of the hill country landscape in a distinct manner. Often, these places are depicted through dusty, dry motifs and palettes, whereas Janet’s approach is to show these moments in a visual language that is kaleidoscopic, lush and bright. Hers is a perspective and expression that offers equal parts joy, depth and authenticity.
Janet Eager Krueger is represented by the Hunt Gallery in San Antonio. Her work at Overland can be viewed by appointment. For more information or to schedule a private viewing, e-mail art@overlandpartners.com. To learn more about Janet, visit janeteagerkrueger.com.
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