Rich Ankeney

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Rich Ankeney has been making photographs for over fifty years and recently started painting again. He has exhibited widely and his work has received numerous awards. Rich earned a BFA in painting and photography from Quincy University, a master’s degree in art education from Illinois State University, and a master’s degree in instructional technology from Western Illinois University. He completed over forty hours of coursework to achieve Apple Teacher Institute certification. Rich taught art and photography classes at Carl Sandburg College for over 25 years. In 2002 he received an Outstanding Alumni Award from the Art Department at Quincy University.

Artist Statement

In my work, I try to create an engaging, structured visual environment through what Arthur Wesley Dow called line, notan and color. I also strive to expand my abilities through constant experimentation. I put an effort into not using my art as a means to rely on overly-complex theories or ideas to prop up mediocre images. I think that formal qualities don’t need some form of conceptual justification to back them up. I am inspired by groups like The Fauves and the early Abstract Expressionists. I am particularly interested in the work of Kandinsky. I am also interested in the parallels between photography and jazz improvisation.