Tracy A Bogardus
When the desert sky becomes the evening's greatest performance
The Still Small Voice, Acrylic on Canvas, Special Recognition Award
The Morning Always Comes, Acrylic on Canvas
Artist Statement
Tracy A. Bogardus is an Arizona artist and Professional Engineer who first picked up a paintbrush in February 2024, after a partial disability redirected his life's path. With no formal art training, he discovered that painting had become a second calling.
Working primarily in acrylics, Tracy creates painterly landscapes and narrative paintings that tell stories of faith, hope, love, remembrance, resilience, and the beauty found in everyday moments. Painting has become both an expression of gratitude and a refuge, quieting the physical challenges of his body while giving voice to experiences that connect us all.
His work reflects the belief that every painting has a story worth telling—and that it is never too late to discover a new purpose, a new passion, or a new beginning.
The Creosote Awakens, Acrylic on Canvas
The painting was inspired by one of the desert’s most beloved experiences, the earthy fragrance released by creosote bushes when rain touches the soil. For many who call the Southwest home, that scent signals more than weather; it announces renewal, relief, and the return of life.
Vienna, A Night of Rain and Romance, Acrylic on Canvas
The glowing lights of Vienna’s historic opera house spill onto rain-slicked streets. In the foreground, a silhouetted couple stands beneath an umbrella, their closeness shielding them from the world while lamplight warms the evening air.
The piece is both a cityscape and a love story, inviting viewers to experience Vienna not through its grandeur alone, but through the intimate, unforgettable moments it inspires.
Goodbye, Old Friend, Acrylic on Canvas
Goodbye, Old Friend reflects the enduring bond between a cowboy and the horse that carried him through countless miles and years. Standing quietly with head bowed, the cowboy remembers a trusted companion whose presence still lingers in memory. Emerging from the clouds above, the white horse appears not as a physical figure, but as a reminder that some relationships never truly leave us.