LIGHT AT LAST

a message of hope and endurance

Cassens Fine Art is honored to present “Light At Last,” a new collection from Nate Closson that celebrates renewal through the rhythm of the land. Created after a year of personal loss and prolonged recovery, these paintings speak to the light that emerges after grief, illness, and uncertainty. The result is a collection rooted in both observation and experience, sending a message of hope and endurance.

This June, Cassens Fine Art is proud to present “Light at Last,” a solo exhibition by Montana-based artist Nate Closson. This body of work explores transformation, both seasonal and personal, through scenes of rural Montana rendered with beautiful composition, deliberate brushwork, and emotional depth. Closson offers this exhibition as a way to share the light that follows the dark; a theme of hope, and a reminder not to let the hard days win.

 
A Montana Story, Built by Hand

Raised in Whitefish, Montana, Nate Closson's love of art began at a very young age. Homeschooled by his mother, a watercolorist who provided both the encouragement and materials needed, Closson developed a keen visual sensibility early in life. He took up wood carving as a child, honing a tactile and spatial awareness that still informs his paintings. By high school, his talent was unmistakable: winning the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest with a detailed rendering of wildlife helped fund his college education and solidify his identity as an artist.

Though he studied art formally in college, Closson found traditional representational painting wasn’t the institutional focus. It was in the years after graduation, working long days building custom cabinetry, that his real artistic training took shape. A pivotal moment in Closson's development as an artist came upon discovering Richard Schmid's book, "Alla Prima," which influenced his perspective on art and painting. He painted on evenings and weekends, never letting go of his creative drive. During this period, he was alongside his father-in-law, who was a seasoned wildlife artist and a big supporter of Closson’s talents.

This background in woodworking gave Closson a designer’s understanding of stability and rhythm. “You can feel the structure in Nate’s compositions,” says Michelle Cassens, owner and curator of Cassens Fine Art. “There’s nothing accidental. Every shape, every break in light, is constructed with the care of someone who’s built for a living.”

An Artistic Lineage

During his creative upbringing, Closson sought out mentorships organically. He spent time painting with Montana artist Bye Bitney, whose impressionistic freedom helped loosen his hand. He later joined a circle of influential regional painters: 

Kenneth Yarus, Richie Carter, Tyler Murphy, Daniel Keys, and Forrest Dickison. 

These artists shared a sensitivity to light, structure, and the natural world. With them, Closson was offered many critiques and much camaraderie that showed him the language of light and brushstroke; the kind that shapes an artist’s vision. 

“I feel incredibly lucky to work with several of these artists,” says Cassens. “Their dedication to both constant improvement and impactful community creates something rare, and Nate is a vital part of that circle.”

Summer at Last

48 x 48 in | Oil on Panel

A group of horses lounges in the sun at Mad Wolf Ranch, their forms gathered closely in a relaxed, almost conversational cluster. Observed by Closson one summer afternoon, the scene offers a mood along with the subject. “This painting is of horses,” he explains, “but the content is really a way to express the beauty of a summer day in Montana.”

Golden light warms their coats, casting soft shadows over the sun-faded grasses. The horses are rendered at nearly life-size, their scale filling the frame with intention. “I want viewers to experience a sense of warmth and peace, as if they were sitting in the field on the edge of the Montana prairie and feeling content in the moment.”

A Thoughtful Process

Closson’s process begins with something that captures his attention, scenes spotted on backroads, ranches, and prairie drives. These moments become photographs and plein air studies. Back in the studio, each painting starts as a series of quick sketches, exploring rhythm and design. “Each painting,” Closson says, “is almost like a song, with unique hooks and melodies, where the parts are recombined to make a unique impression.”

Once a composition is chosen, he refines it with full drawings and transfers it to the panel using a grid. His block-in stage maps the painting in simplified lights and darks, creating a solid structure. At this stage, some compositional elements may not translate well to a larger scale. When that happens, Closson removes or sands out the problem areas and reimagines them. From there, his paintings evolve in layers, each pass adding texture, nuance, and clarity.

“There’s a precision in Nate’s work.” notes Cassens. “You can sense the years he’s spent refining how things fit together, how weight and structure work in the real world. That discipline carries into his paintings.”

Mustangs and the Ranch House

48 x 48 in | Oil on Panel

In this painting, a group of mustangs rests near a ranch house just outside of Whitefish, only a few miles from Closson’s home. The horses and the house are both central to the composition, neither is treated as secondary.

This pairing, the animal and the structure, has become an area of ongoing exploration in Closson’s work. “I’ve recently been exploring the combination of the symbols of home and the horse,” he explains. “The result seems to speak to the audience, especially those immersed in the ethos and culture of the West.”

That sense of recognition, of something both personal and shared, is part of what makes the piece impactful. The shadows are long but not heavy, anchoring the piece with just enough contrast. “This scene is so familiar to anyone who’s spent time in Montana,” says Cassens, “but it’s rarely captured with this kind of clarity and precision.”

A Personal Reawakening

The title “Light at Last” speaks to both the return of spring in Montana and Closson’s own emotional journey. When spring finally breaks through, it does so with a force that is both emotional and physical. The light returns, birds sing again, and the land breathes deeply.

This exhibition was created in the wake of a difficult year for Closson that included the passing of his father-in-law, a respected wildlife artist and mentor. This happened while Closson was simultaneously undergoing major surgery to repair a debilitating inner ear condition. There were months when painting was not just difficult, but uncertain. It was a point in his life where he realized his condition was taking away the ability for him to do what he holds most dear.

Montana’s winters are long, cold, and isolating, but spring always returns. Creating this body of work marked the first stretch of light after a long period of loss and uncertainty. Closson’s paintings capture that shift, reminding us that light follows darkness, and warmth follows pain.

Why Nate Closson, Why Now?

Cassens Fine Art is honored to represent Nate Closson, an artist whose work reflects both craftsmanship and emotional depth. “Light At Last” is a show grounded in real experience, of place, of loss, of renewal, and it speaks to the resilience that lives at the heart of the West. Through deliberate design and layered process, Closson shows a way through the northern colds to the beauty and peace of the Montana spring.

“In a time when the world often feels frenzied and unmoored,” says Cassens, “Nate’s work offers us contrast. These are paintings that remind us of the good, quiet moments that exist. I’m honored to host this show because it speaks to something steady and lasting; something we need more of right now.”

JOIN US FOR THE EXHIBITION

Cassens Fine Art presents “Light at Last,” an exhibition that a theme of hope, and a reminder not to let the hard days win. Join us for the artist reception on Friday, JUNE 6, FROM 5-7 PM. The exhibition will be on view throughout the month.