Art Bumpkin
Contemporary Yokel

Art Bumpkin is a self-taught artist. A tinkerer, he is often found making, breaking and fixing stuff. He is an Outsider (sometimes cutting the lawn). In his free time, he creates art work out in his barn studio in Ellensburg, WA.

Art grew up drawing, painting and cooking as a young person. His professional career led him away from creating visual art to a wide range of jobs including jobs in finance, the energy sector, non-profits, information technology and as a restaurant owner.

After years of sporadic creation, interruption, and being consumed by other creative pursuits, Art Bumpkin was driven to start creating visual art again in 2024. He was drawn back to making art by an open call at Punch for a pet-themed exhibition and then at Gallery One’s Kittitas County Open Show. He found joy in this creation. All the work in this show has been created in the past 13 months. He is extremely appreciative of the fuel that these Kittitas Valley arts organizations have provided to help his art making grow beyond that initial reignition.

Having moved from Seattle to Ellensburg in 2021 his work has been centered on rural and urban identities and the divides between them both real and imagined. He is particularly interested in the visual vocabulary of rural places which energized his exploration of barn quilt squares and the Posted series.

He often works in paint, including acrylic, enamel and watercolors. Much of his recent work was created with found objects reclaimed from his farm.

Upcoming Events on the PUNCH Stage
3-5 pm on Saturdays

3/01: Mister Earl
(folk, bluegrass, classic)

3/08: Forest Ray
(psychedelic folk ‘n’ roll)

3/15: Chris King and the Gutterballs
(garage twang)

3/22: Western Arrow
(indie/alt-country)

3/29: Anjuman
(classical Indian & Afro-Cuban)