Ted Rose

Ted Rose | 1940 - 2002

Ted Rose was an American realist, post expressionist, painter and printmaker, internationally recognized for his craft, artistry, depth, humanity and prowess. His lens one of transcendental America, human scale approachable and un-nostalgic - images that highlight both the geographic and human dimensions of the railroad culture, blues, ranching and northern New Mexico’s bounty, as well the historic significance of cultural and artistic transitions within our democracy.

During the 1990s, he was invited to create five paintings for the U.S. Postal Service’s “All Aboard” stamp series (1999), was the artist of distinction for New Mexico Magazine, Artist’s Magazine and Southwest Art. He was the artist for New Mexico Magazine, Amtrak, and Cedco calendars 97-2000, and was published and featured in 20 diverse periodicals throughout his career in North America and Germany.

Ted Rose’s love of drawing, painting and trains was lifelong, beginning in Milwaukee,Wisconsin. Ted’s father, architect Jack Rose shared the end of the steam era with his sons in Milwaukee and Chicago. While in high school and college Ted spent summers working in the art department of Milwaukee-based Kalmbach publishing, Trains magazine. As a young man he explored the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Guatemala by rail, solo and with longtime friend Bob Ludwig. During this time he produced a collection of over 4400 photographs that would become important in forming his aesthetic, perspective, and inspiration both compositionally, and evoking the light and shadow dance throughout his works and career. 

After completing a BFA (magna cum laude) at the University of Illinois in 1962 in Painting with a minor in Printmaking and History, he was drafted to Vietnam, after which he put his camera down. Following the narrow gauge to Chama, NM he chose to settle near Santa Fe, meeting his wife Polly at the Museum of New Mexico’s drawing group. Etching, woodcuts, drawing, woodworking, and eventually graphic design for the City of Santa Fe, led to designing and building his adobe home and studio with Polly in Santa Fe. Shows of his photographs of the steam era were attended by Elliot Porter, Laura Gilpin and Georgia O’Keeffe. His collection was donated in entirety by his widow Polly to the Center of Railroad Photography and Art. 

He founded Hod Carriers Ink, a freelance graphic design business while raising his family (winning multiple awards and finally the Lifetime Achievement Award from the NM Ad Federation), and began painting again, in 1983 - Ted produced over 1000 paintings in the small window of his twenty year painting career, and in the final years of his life added to his expressionistic passion integrating his finely tuned graphic sense, love of blues and social justice with his soul artistry producing 250 rare and deeply evocative gems as monotypes. 

A member of the American Watercolor Society and the National Watercolor Society, Rose’s works have been exhibited in galleries, juried shows, and museums around the country. They are now in the collections of the Haggerty Museum, Colorado Railroad Museum, California State Railroad Museum, the Minnesota Transportation Museum, among multiple private collectors internationally. His artistry, articles and insights on history, art and our anthropological centers have been shared in multiple publications, as well as contributing full painting collections created for children’s books. 

His book “In the Traces”, published by Indiana University Press 2000 is an anthem and collection of rare magnitude. In the short 2 years to follow its publication, Ted Rose completed another 100 pieces, both watercolor and monotypes. His last painting was in the month of his death. 

He left tactile, visceral, moving composition of soul spaces and a ceremony of shared lineage through his prowess and love- In the traces of our collective perspective. 20 years in the aftermath of Ted Rose’s passing, we his family are inspired to share the bounty and inspiration of his vision and brush with you.

• Born August 13,1940, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• BFA ( Honors), University of Illinois, 1962; major, Painting; minors, Printmaking, History

• U.S. Army, 1963-65; drafted- 12-month Vietnam tour

• Moved to Chama, New Mexico, 1965; to Santa Fe, 1966

• Lived and worked in his studio in Santa Fe through 2002

• Exhibitions

• 2nd Annual Missouri National Juried Exhibition, 2002

• 71st Annual Hudson Valley National Juried Exhibition, 2002

• 26th Annual Midwest Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition, 2002

• The Artist’s Magazine, Competition Finalists’ Show, 1997 (First Place, Landscape)

• Ridgway Gallery, Colorado: solo exhibition, 1997

• Johnsons of Madrid (NM. Group shows, 1997

• NM. Arts and Crafts Fair, jurors’ show. 1997

• Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors, Old Forge N.Y.,1997,1996

• National Irving Shapiro Memorial Watercolor Competition, Chicago,1996,1995

• California State Railroad Museum, Sacramento, 1995-1997

• Fenn Galleries, Santa Fe: invitational group show for Absolute Vodka, 1995

• Nymeyer Gallery, Chicago: Group show, 1995

• Cline Gallery, Santa Fe, “Enduring Inspiration: N.M. Landscape Painting 1995, “invitational group show,1995

• Zaplin-Lampert Gallery, Santa Fe: solo shows 1995, 1994, 1992, 1990

• Museum of New Mexico, Southwest Biennial, 1969

• Awards

• Board of Directors Award, NM Watercolor Society, Spring 2000

• Best of Watercolor/Gouache, Old West Museum, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 2000

• Lafayette (La.) Art Association, Best in Two-Dimensional, for a monotype, 2000

• The Artist’s Magazine national competition, First Place, Landscape, 1997

• New Mexico Magazine’s Distinguished Artist for 1997

• National Irving Shapiro Memorial Watercolor Competition, Chicago: Second Place 1996

• Adirondacks National Exhibition: Winsor & Newton Award 1996

• Midwest Watercolor Society Nat’l Exhibition: Door County Creative Workshop Award 1996

• Kansas Watercolor Society Seven-State Exhibition: Mountain Iron & Supply Award 1996

• New Mexico Watercolor Society: Board of Directors Award 1997 and 1996 Best of Show 1994;

• Grumbacher Award 1993; Board of Directors Award 1991; Honorable Mention 1990, 1988; Second Place 1989. Signature Member, elected 1991

• New York Book Show: 3rd Place Jacket Award (Across America on an Emigrant Train, Clarion Books) 1994

• West Texas Watercolor Society: Second Place 1994

• American Watercolor Society: Signature Member, elected 1993; Dagmar Tribble Award 1993

• American Advertising Federation: First Place (Addv) for Cumbres & Toltec Scenic

• Railroad magazine ad 1982

• American Advertising Federation, District 12: First Place 1982

• Northern New Mexico Advertdisting Federation, Santa Fe: more than 25 First, Second and Merit awards 1982-1988,1993

• Milwaukee Journal Art Contest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: First Place 1956

• Publications - Profiles

• The Artist’s Magazine: “ 97 Art Competition, Landscape, First Place, Ted Rose,” Dec. 1997

• New Mexico Magazine: “Ted Rose: Off the Beaten Track, “by Candelora Versace, with 10 paintings, Sept. 1996

• Railfan & Railroad: “Returning to the Rails: Artist Ted Rose came back to his favorite subject and medium,

• “feature article by Editor Jim Boyd, with six paintings including cover, Nov. 1994; “We’d like you to meet Ted Rose, “ Jan. 1987

• Wingspread: editorial feature, Winter 1994-95

• Southwest Art: “Ted Rose: Locomotion, “by Anna Francis, with four paintings, May 1993

• LOKI Magazine (Germany) : “ The Paintings of Ted Rose, “by Peter Gloor, with six paintings, May 1993

• New Mexico Magazine: Enthusiasm for Trains Colors His Work, “by Arnold Vigil, with five paintings, Sept. 1989

• Books - Paintings have been featured in:

• Splash 5: The Glory of Color, w/ statement on color, North Light Books, 1997

• Leading the West: One Hundred Contemporary Painters and Sculptors, by Donald J. Hagerty, Northland Press, 1997

• The Chili Line and Santa Fe the City Different, R.D. Publications, 1997

• Confessions of a Train Watcher, ed. George H. Drury, cover painting, Kalmbach, 1997

• Splash 4: The Splender of Light, w/statement on light, North Light ‘Books, Cincinnati, 1996

• Robert W. Richardson’s Narrow Gauge News, Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation, 1994

• Across America on an Emigrant Train, dust jacket, Clarion Books,1994 (New York Book Show jacket award)

• The Rio Grande Southern II, An Ultimate Pictorial Study, R.D. Publications, 1994

• Missouri Pacific Northwest, South Platte Press 1994

• Cape Cod Railroads, 1st ed., Cape Cod Historical Publications, 1990; 2nd ed., 1993

• Rails Across America, Salamander Books (London),1993

• Steams Finest Hour (anniversary reissue), Kalmbach Publishing Co.,1990

• Railroads and Railroad Towns of New Mexico, New Mexico Magazine (publisher),1989

• Canadian Steam!, Kalmbach Publishing Co., 1962

• Magazines - Paintings have been featured in:

• Amtrak Express

• The Keystone (Pennslvania RR Technical & Historical Society, pub.): covers, centerspreads

• Locomotive & Railway Preservation, covers, centerspreads, feature articles

• Model Railroader

• Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette, covers

• New Mexico Magazine: special Chile Issue: two feature articles

• Pacific Rail News: cover and centerspread

• Passenger Train Journal: covers, Amtrak painting and article

• RailNews: feature articles and paintings

• Trains: centerspreads, cover

• Vintage Rails: frontispieces

• Articles by the artist with paintings

• Locomotive & Railway Preservation: November 1989, May 1987

• Pacific Rail News: June 1995, Nov.1995

• Railfan & Railroad: Jan.1997, Nov. 1994 Jan.1992, Feb.1991, Dec.1989, Nov.1988,Jan.1987

• RailNews: June 1997

• Trains: 50th Anniversary Issue Nov.1990, Sept.1989, Dec.1985

• Trains Illustrated: premiere issue 1988

• Posters

• Daylight, Coast Starlight, Southern Pacific Lines, for SP business cars, 1995

• New Kid on the Block, Santa Fe Southern Railway, 1995

• Taking on More Varnish, The Deal, The Celebrations: Sprint Press, fort Worth, 1995

• Assignments, 1992; Once Upon a Time,1991: Cottonwood, Albuquerque

• Ascending Grade: San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society, 1991

• Wine –Dark Soo, 1990; Westbound Chief, 1988; Hot Out of Chama, Otowi Crossing, 1986 Hod Carries Ink

• Pennsy Men: Locomotive & Railway Preservation, 1988

• Cards  

• Leanin’ Tree, twelve card, 1990-1997

• Calendars

• New Mexico Magazine’s Distinguished Artist Calendar, 1997

• Amtrak, 1997,1998

• Images of Railroading: Paintings by Ted Rose, Cedco,1996,1997,1998,1999,

• An American Journey, Paintings by Ted Rose, Cedco,1999

• The Chili Line, with historical commentary: Hod Carriers Ink, 1985

• Television

• Tracks Ahead III, featured artist, for PBS by WMVT-TV, Milwaukee,1995

• Author

• “Art and Impressions,” column on fine art in Locomotive & Railway Preservation,1995-96

• “Reproduction or Print: What’s the Difference?”, article in Railfan & Railroad, Oct.1994

• Good, Bad and Ugly: The Railroad as Subject in American Art, “paper with slide illustrations presented to The Lexington Group, 1994

• Juror

• New Mexico Arts & Crafts Fair, Paintings, 1997

• Ouray County (Colo.) Arts Association, Alpine Artists Show, 1997

• Affiliations

• American Watercolor Society (signature member)

• New Mexico Watercolor Society (signature member)

• Kansas Watercolor Society (signature member)

• Pennsylvania Watercolor Society (signature member)

• The Lexington Group in Transportation History

• Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: Advisory Board

• Collections

• Paintings in private and corporate collections including:

• CSX Corporation

• College of Santa Fe

• Burlington Northern Santa Fe

• John & Marilyn Mc Greer

• Dr. Alexander Ruthven II

• Donnell & Susan Piestrup

• John & Susanne Manley

• Union Pacific Railroad

• Amtrak

• U.S. Postal Service

• Kalmbach Publishing Co.

• Margot Fogg

• Colorado Railroad Museum

• Judge Reinhold

• Bill Withuhn

• Albert Louer

• Wallace Abbey

• Fred Springer

• Santa Fe Southern Railway

• Morgan Stanley (Japan)

• California State Railroad Museum

• Ms. Anne Albrink