“I always thought that if the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the water,
the water was bound to reflect it. Hence my sentiment for water, for its folds,
its wrinkles, and ripples, and – as I am a Northerner – for its grayness. I
simply think that water is the image of time…”

– Joseph Brodsky

The concept of the passage of time, fleeting and geologic – my work is a response to this, and to the tenuous perception of things continuous or whole and the endless elements that create these illusions. It is manifested in line and pattern, color and tone, multiple surfaces, and further expressed in the physical act of mark making and immersion in the moment of this response.

Ralph Wiegmann, a first generation German-American, was born and raised in the mid-west. Many summers were spent with his family in the Rocky Mountain West. As a teenager, he studied violin, painting, drawing and ceramics at Interlochen Arts Academy. Ralph studied Graphic Design at Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and then moved into Fine Art at the Academy of Art in San Francisco, where he received his BFA in Painting & Drawing. After working several years in illustration, graphic design and set building in San Francisco, Ralph moved to Missoula, Montana to pursue his passion for painting and drawing. He received his MFA in Painting from the University of Montana in 1998. Ralph currently lives in Bozeman, Montana with his wife and artist, Suzanne Truman.

EDUCATION

1998 MFA Painting, University of Montana, Missoula, MT

1987 BFA Drawing & Printmaking, Academy of Art College, San Francisco, CA

1983-84 Drawing/Illustration, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, WI

1974-77 Painting/Drawing/Ceramics/Violin, Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, MI

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2015 Visions West Gallery, two person show w/Suzanne Truman, Denver CO (Nov.)

Cerulean Gallery, two person show w/Suzanne Truman, Amarillo TX

2014 Visions West Gallery, two person show w/Suzanne Truman, Denver CO

2013 Turman Larison Contemporary, 13 Under 13, Helena MT

2012 Missoula Art Museum, “Montana Triennial” juried exhibition, Missoula MT

Visions West Gallery, group shows, Bozeman, MT & Denver CO

2011 Turman Larison Contemporary, two-person show w/Suzanne Truman

Helena MT

Visions West Gallery, “Montana Avant Garde”, Bozeman MT

Humboldt State University, two-person show w/Suzanne Truman, Arcata CA

2010 Holter Museum, invitational: “Double Vision”, Helena MT

Danforth Gallery, invitational group show, Livingston MT

Visions West Gallery, group show, Livingston MT & Denver CO

2009 Cerulean Gallery, two-person show w/Suzanne Truman, Dallas TX

Missoula Art Museum, juried “Montana Contemporary Triennial”, Missoula MT

2008 Kebanu Gallery, two-person show, Bend OR

Deweese Gallery, two-person show, Bozeman MT

Missoula Art Museum, juried contemporary art auction, Missoula MT

2007 Kebanu Gallery, group exhibition, Bend OR

Missoula Art Museum, juried contemporary art auction, Missoula MT

Ecce Gallery @ The Emerson Cultural Center, solo show, Bozeman MT

Nicolaysen Art Museum, “Wild Wild West”, small works, Casper WY

2006 Kebanu Gallery, group exhibition, Bend OR

Danforth Gallery, fall show, Livingston MT

Danforth Gallery, Christmas show, Livingston MT

Gallatin River Gallery, group show, Big Sky MT

ShackUp Design, group show, Bozeman MT

Ecce Gallery @ The Emerson Cultural Center, solo show, Bozeman MT

“Wild Wild West”, small works, Nicolaysen Art Museum, Casper WY

2005 Bealle Park Art Center, “Contemporary interpretations from the Lewis & Clark
Trail, Bozeman MT

Gallatin River Gallery, group show, Big Sky MT

Nicolaysen Art Museum, “Mountains-Plains” art auction, Casper WY

“Wild Wild West”, small works, Nicolaysen Art Museum, Casper WY

2004 “Earth and Sky”, group show, Gallatin River Gallery, Big Sky MT

Kebanu Gallery, solo show, Bend OR

Brian Marki Gallery, group exhibitions, Portland OR

“Large Works” Comma-Q Architecture/ShackUp Design, Bozeman MT

Missoula Art Museum, juried contemporary art auction, Missoula MT

Mountain West Contemporary, juried art auction, MSU – Bozeman MT

2003 Artworks Gallery, solo show, Bozeman MT

Stellers Gallery, group exhibition, Jacksonville FL

35th Annual Art Auction, Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings MT

Mountain West Contemporary, juried art auction, MSU – Bozeman MT

2001-02 Ochi Gallery, gallery representation, Ketchum ID

2001 Emerson Cultural Center, solo exhibition of large works, Bozeman MT

Yellowstone Art Museum, small works auction, Billings MT

Savant Claire Gallery, group shows, Bozeman MT

2000 Hockaday Art Museum, two-person show w/Jay Rummell, Kalispell MT

Cordell Taylor Gallery, “Rewind 99”, Salt Lake City UT

Affinity Fine Art, contemporary Montana Artists, Palm Springs CA

Weber State University, “Drawing Now”, Ogden UT

University of Montana-Western, faculty show, Dillon MT

1999 University of Montana Art Museum, “40 Freedoms”, juried, Missoula MT

Cordell Taylor Gallery, solo exhibition, Salt Lake City UT

Western New Mexico University, faculty exchange exhibition, Silver City NM

Paris Gibson Art Museum, “Art Equinox”, juried/regional, Great Falls MT

COLLECTIONS

University of Montana, Permanent Collection, Missoula MT

University of Montana, ceiling mural, Strand Union Bldg, Missoula MT

Paul Budnitz (founder/Kidrobot, Ello), Boulder CO

David Quammen (Author), Bozeman MT

Dr. David Sands, Bozeman MT

John Henry Zale, Dallas TX

REPRESENTATION

Cerulean Gallery, Amarillo TX

Visions West Gallery, Bozeman, MT and Denver CO

TEACHING

2010-Present Adjunct Instructor: Drawing, Montana State University, Bozeman MT

2003-10 Instructor: private painting/drawing lessons, Bozeman MT

2000-02 Instructor: Life Drawing, Bealle Park Art Center, Bozeman MT

2000 Sabbatical Replacement: Watercolor, University of Montana-Western, Dillon MT

1999 Workshop – Dry Point Printmaking, University of Montana-Western, Dillon MT

Mural Project: Flathead Indian Reservation/St. Ignatius High, St. Ignatius MT

1998-99 Guest Instructor: ceramics wheel workshop, St. Ignatius High, St. Ignatius MT

1996-98 Teaching Assistant: Drawing 123, University of Montana, Instructor of Record,
Missoula MT

1986-87 Teaching Assistant: Printmaking, Academy of Art College, San Francisco CA

RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

1990-present Freelance Illustrator/Designer, Storyboard artist, film/video/commercial

1993-1995 Ohm Productions, Illustrator/Industrial Designer/custom lighting, San Francisco CA

1993-1995 Production Resources, Draftsman and Designer/trade shows, San Francisco CA

1992-1995 Lewis and Partners. Storyboard artist/Packaging Design, San Francisco CA

1990-1991 Winterland Productions, Illustrator/Designer/music industry promotions, San Francisco CA

1988-1990 FM Productions, Scenic Artist/Set Builder, Brisbane CA