Dawn Rentz was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and spent many years living in the rural part of that state. It was this environment with the big skies and plentiful plant forms that set the stage for Rentz’s connection to nature.
After graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in Fibers, Rentz moved to Asheville, NC and has kept an art studio there for over 25 years. Starting as a textile designer with a line of hand printed fabrics, Rentz transitioned to painting using blocks and patterns in her mixed media paintings of ethereal landscapes with intertwined botanical imagery. She also created a line of handbags and accessories combining rich metallic leathers with her hand-printed fabrics.
Rentz’s paintings have been exhibited nationwide and collected internationally. Her work can be found in numerous private and public collections, including the Asheville Museum of Art, Biltmore Farms, Enpro Industries, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Westin Corporation, and many others.
Artist Statement
My current paintings are an exploration of an atmosphere of light. The vast line of a horizon gives me a sense of peace. Whether these horizons are on the coast, a lake, mountain views, flat lands, or rolling hills, it is in this space that I find calm. There is so much that goes on in these skies from intense and colorful to subtle and muted, yet powerful in each. In a world where there is so much darkness, it is my intention to remind the viewer of light and hope.