The Red Piano Art Gallery is thrilled to feature the extraordinary works of West Fraser, one of the leading American artists in the representational and plein air tradition. Born in Savannah, Georgia in 1955, Fraser’s deep-rooted connection to the South Carolina and Georgia coasts, where his family history dates back to 1696, serves as the foundation for his evocative and atmospheric paintings. Growing up on Hilton Head Island, Fraser developed a lifelong love for the coastal landscapes that continue to inspire his art today. His richly painted vistas capture the beauty and essence of these environments, making him a true “Son of the Lowcountry.”
Over the course of his prolific career, Fraser has gained national and international acclaim for his masterful landscapes. Whether painting the serene marshlands of South Carolina, the rolling hills of Tuscany, or the vibrant streets of Charleston, his ability to harness light and atmosphere sets him apart. An avid traveler, Fraser has explored and painted throughout the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, and Scandinavia, yet he always returns to the marshes and landscapes of the Georgia and South Carolina coasts. His works have been featured in nine solo museum exhibitions across the United States, and his paintings reside in the permanent collections of several museums, including The White House Historical Association.
West Fraser’s work has been widely celebrated in major publications such as Plein Air Magazine, Charleston Magazine, Southern Living, and Fine Art Connoisseur. His book Painting the Southern Coast: The Art of West Fraser, published by the University of South Carolina Press, was a best-seller, further solidifying his place as a preeminent artist of the American South. His passion for capturing the transient beauty of light—from the golden hues of sunrise to the soft glow of moonlight—infuses his paintings with a sense of both stillness and movement, drawing viewers into the world he portrays. Fraser’s work, as described by Jean Stern, Executive Director of the Irvine Museum, “takes what we see every day, something that seems ordinary, and makes it worthy of fine art.”
We invite you to stop by The Red Piano Art Gallery, located at 40 Calhoun St., Suite 201, Bluffton, SC, just minutes from Hilton Head Island, to experience the stunning landscapes of West Fraser in person. Our gallery has been a beacon of artistic excellence for over 50 years, representing a diverse array of America’s finest painters and sculptors. Alongside Fraser’s captivating coastal scenes, you’ll find exceptional works by other renowned artists, making your visit an inspiring journey through the beauty of the Lowcountry and beyond.