Thrives on Light: The Western Gaze of David Mason

Thrives on Light: The Western Gaze of David Mason

David Mason Solo Exhibition
Curators: Samantha Lee / Xi Wang

Exhibition Dates: May 24 – June 24, 2025
Organizer: Whitelock Art Center, New York

Exhibition Introduction:
Between light and shadow, within layers of texture woven from colored pencil, metallic leaf, and ink, American contemporary artist David Mason presents a deeply personal visual language. In his solo exhibition Thrives on Light: The Western Gaze of David Mason at Whitelock Art Center, New York, viewers are invited to immerse themselves in the spiritual imagery and cultural essence of the American West, captured through his meticulous hand.

David Mason, a California-based artist, has spent decades exploring the nuances of pictorial expression. His unique technique—blending colored pencil, acrylic, ink, and metallic leaf—creates works that are both visually radiant and emotionally resonant. The finesse in his control over mixed media reveals not only technical mastery but also a gentle yet resolute narrative voice. In his compositions, figures and animals, natural scenes and symbolic motifs unfold with rich storytelling, constructing a poetic space suspended between reality and dream.

Featured works such as Denim, Just Looking, The Little Prince, and Buckaroo draw from the lifestyle and spiritual symbols of the American West. Cowboys, animals, attire, festivities, and regional elements are condensed into evocative imagery. These works are more than homage to cultural tradition—they are acts of re-vision and reconstruction. In Mason’s hands, the West is no longer solely the mythic land of pioneers and frontiers. It becomes a spiritual territory where solitude, dignity, courage, and illumination converge.

Notably, Mason’s treatment of light goes beyond the formal—it is deeply spiritual. Through subtle gradations of brightness, the interplay of reflective foil, and the tension between background and subject, light becomes a narrative thread. Each painting seems illuminated by an unseen, inner beam. This philosophy of “thriving on light” is the central idea that gives the exhibition its name.

Thrives on Light: The Western Gaze of David Mason not only showcases the artist’s refined approach to image-making and material, but also reflects his profound meditation on culture, identity, and memory. This exhibition is a journey of the soul—spanning geography and time—that invites us to rediscover the layered emotions and evolving meanings behind the myth and reality of the American West.

—Curators: Samantha Lee / Xi Wang Written on May 16, 2025

 

David Mason Curriculum Vitae

Background and Education

David Mason was born in California and is a lifelong Californian artist, currently residing in the mountain town of Truckee. He grew up in Carmel, a coastal city renowned for its artistic atmosphere. Raised in such a richly creative environment—and with both of his parents being artists—David was immersed in the world of art from an early age.

He discovered photography around the age of ten, which sparked his passion for visual art and led him to explore his unique artistic vision. As a child, he was deeply interested in drawing and developed his skills largely through self-teaching.

David later attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO), where he majored in Applied Art and Design with a concentration in Photography. In 1981, he had the rare opportunity to participate in a summer internship and mentorship with the legendary photographer Ansel Adams at his studio and home in Carmel. This formative experience left a lasting impact on David’s artistic perspective and approach to photography. From 1981 to 1985, his studies at Cal Poly SLO provided a strong foundation in both the theory and practice of visual arts.

Artistic Experience and Honors

 

2025

·Visual Art Journal, Publication Award；

·Observica Magazine, Publication Feature；

·Art League of Hilton Head Biennale, Hilton Head South Carolina；

·15th Art&Soul of The Magic Valley, Twin Falls Idaho；

·All Animals, Publication Award, Art&Color 365, Winter Vol 3；

·Invited Committee Member for Whitelock Art Center Academic Committee；

·Courageously Created Fine Art Show and Auction for Alatheia Therapeutic ；Riding Center. Sleeping Lady Resort, Leavenworth WA；

·Visions and Dreams, High Art Contest；

·The Colorful Now, Domino Gallery；

·Contest and Show, Wild and Scenic Film Festival, Grass Valley California；

2024

·Public Art Commissioner, panel of 7, City of Truckee, California；

·Barbagelata Contemporary Art Foundation, Framing The American Experience, Solo Show and article；

·Camelback Gallery Realism Juried Art Awards, Finalist Award；

·Arts To Hearts Project, Animal Edition, publication book；

·Art And Color 365 Drawings Competition, Artistic Recognition Award；

·Animals Art Exhibition, Special Recognition Award；

·Juniper Rag Nigh, virtual exhibition；

·Artsy Shark, Thrives On Light, Solo show and featured article；

·Biafarin 4th Annual Awards, juried publication；

·Exhibizione Grand Prize 11th edition, juried publication；

·Artistonish Magazine 50th edition, Cover；

·Nature Lover Covet Art Gallery, Oceanside, in-person show；

·Kingdom Animalia Group Exhibition；

·96th Grand National Exhibition, finalist；

·Great Northern Art Explosion, Ausable Artisan Village, Grayling MI, in-person show；

·Primary Colors Art Exhibition July, online show, honorable mention；

·People, online competition, Gallerium, Biafarin.com；

·3rd Prize, Living & Breathing Juried Art Contest, Gallery 4%, February；

·Finalist Award, Spring Art Awards, topartawards.com；

·Bronze Award, Amazing Animals Art Awards, Camelback Gallery；

·First Place, Vibrant Colors Competition, Ten Moir Gallery；

·Bronze Award, Artist Invitational 9, Camelback Gallery；

·Finalist, Figurative Competition, Camelback Gallery；

·Artistic Merit, Flowers International Exhibition, Barbagelata Foundation；

·Distinction Award, Floral & Botanical Competition, Gallery 4%；

·HMVC Gallery Flowers, online show；

·Drawing Exhibition, Naturalist Gallery of Contemporary Art；

·Artist of the Month, Artweek.com；

·Thrives On Light, Online Solo Exhibition, March-April, Exhibizone.com；

·9th Animal International Juried Art Competition, Teravana；

·Venus Art Competition, June-August, Exhibizone.com；

2023

·Gallery 5830, Truckee California, Solo Show 12/2023；

·Portraits, Group Exhibition. Galleries.art/portraits2023；

·Exhibizone Grand Prize Group Exhibition；

·Biafarin Awards Group Exhibition；

·Brownsville Museum of Art, Texas, 48th International Art Show, 3rd Place；

·Candy Dance Festival, Genoa Nevada；

·Primary Colors Exhibition, 8th Place overall；

·HMVC Gallery, New York, Group Show, Freestyle；

·Artist Closeup, Art Magazine 12, Publication Award；

·Art & Color 365, June Wildlife and Animals Publication Award；

·Extinction: Save The Planet, Publication Award；

·Western Heritage Festival, Genoa Nevada；

·Las Lagunas Gallery-Gone Wild Show；

·Artstonish Magazine Issue 31, Publication Award；

·Art Show International Gallery, Honorable Mention Award, Animal；

·Exhibiting Artist, Art Obsession Gallery, Reno NV；

·Exhibiting Artist, Genoa Gallery, Genoa NV；

2022

·Solo Show at 5830 Gallery, Truckee CA. Nov 4 - Dec 4；

·Contemporary Art Gallery, All Animal Competition, Judges Choice Award；

·Contemporary Art Gallery, All Botanical Show；

·Featured Artist, 5830 Art Gallery, Truckee, CA；

·Light Space Time, 12th Annual Animals Exhibition, International Juried Show；

·Winner, Antarctic Southern Ocean Conservancy, World Penguin Day Art contest；

·Featured Artist, Riverside Studios Art Gallery, Truckee, CA；

2021

·Mentor, Culturally Art Collective Mentorship Program；

·Online international exhibit, Culturally Art Collective；

2020

·Artist Grant, Artorama；

·Local Love, Bay Area local art support exhibition；

2019

·Featured, California State Fair；

2011

·Award of Merit, California State Fair；

2009

·Las Vegas Art Expo；

2008

·New York Art Expo；

2007

·Award of Excellence, California State Fair；

2006

·Solo Showing at Melisse Restaurant (Michelin 2 star), Santa Monica, CA；

2003

·Third Place award, National Contest, Spirit of America, Washington D.C.；

2002

·Solo Show at Del Dotto Winery, Napa, CA；

·Exhibitor with Platform Media, San Francisco, CA (2002–03)；

2001

·Juror’s Award and Award of Merit, California State Fair；

·Two pieces featured at West Moreland Art Festival, PA；

1996

·Contributor to Napa Valley Wine Auction (Art Auction fundraiser)；

1993

·Showing at Santa Barbara Art Company, Santa Barbara, CA；

1992

·Showing at Feathers Gallery in La Jolla, CA and Scottsdale, AZ；

·Showing at Indian Market, Santa Fe, NM；

1991

·Showing at Many Horses Gallery, Los Angeles, CA；

·Solo art show at Santa Barbara Art and Frame, Santa Barbara, CA；

1981–85

·Studied applied art and photography, Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, CA；

1981

·Summer Internship/Mentorship with Ansel Adams, Carmel CA；