The Next Generation | Mark Maggiori - Southwest Art Magazine

Mark Maggiori, Coyotes Howling, oil, 24 x 30.

How has your work evolved in recent years? It has gotten more and more in depth. I started out painting local cowboys I was hanging out with in Arizona. From there I started to dig into the past of western art, and I started to do more historical paintings. Last year, we decided to move to Taos, and now I’m painting Pueblo Native Americans. So I’ve gotten deeper into what the West really is and what it represents, and I’m happy to be on that journey.

Where do you find inspiration? I immerse myself in the West. Living in Taos, it’s such a central place for art history but also for the Native American perspective. And I have access to all the subject matter I want—300 miles around me, there’s Arizona, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico. That is very inspiring on its own, being able go out there, take photos, and paint outside.

What are you most proud of? Well, my daughters. But in terms of art, I would say I’m proud that I’ve been able to pull it off—to wake up in the morning and know that that’s what I’m doing for a living, knowing that there are people who want to put my paintings on their walls, and thousands of people who own my prints. It doesn’t get better than that. Knowing that my work is in demand, and seeing the good results in auctions and shows—it means a lot.

Describe yourself in one word. Forward. There are many meanings in that word—moving forward, and also being straightforward. I like the motion in this word. I think that I’m a person in motion, always trying to move forward, to be better and do better.

Tell us a little bit about your studio. We bought 5 acres in Taos, and there are two houses on the property, but neither of them were really looking like a studio—but there was a three-car garage that had good space. So we converted it and brought the ceiling up to about 16 feet high. It’s about 800 square feet, with a beautiful north mountain view through a big window. Every time I go into the studio, I’m happy.

What do you hope to accomplish in the next few years? I’m working toward a solo show in March 2023 at Legacy Gallery. When we go back to a normal life, I have a lot of traveling to do to get new material. I want to paint more horses, maybe in South America. And I may expand to new subject matter. But pretty much I just want to keep doing good paintings—that’s the only thing that matters.

What galleries represent your work? Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ; Parsons Gallery, Taos, NM; Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM.