History of the Festival
The Sheridan Arts Foundation collaborated with Sonoma Plein Air executive director Keith Wicks to produce the first annual Telluride Plein Air in 2004 as a celebration of outdoor painting and to raise funds for the non-profit that owns and operates the historic Sheridan Opera House. Telluride Plein Air has grown to be one of the premier plein air festivals in the world.
The Sheridan Arts Foundation is proud to celebrate the 20th annual Telluride Plein Air in 2023. Five of the original twelve artists were invited to return as guest artists including Keith Wicks. Additional guest artists are Cathy Anderson, Debra Huse, Charles Pyle and Randall Sexton.
What began with twelve artists grew to as many as thirty-six artists and has now settled at an average of twenty-six. The festival is an essential part of the Telluride Fourth of July celebrations and the largest fundraiser of the summer for the Sheridan Arts Foundation.
Take a walk down memory lane with our list of esteemed artists who have participated, posters, event photos and artist choice paintings from the past twenty festivals.
