Birger Sandzén

Birger Sandzén was a Swedish-American painter known for vivid, boldly colored landscapes of the American West. Born in Sweden in 1871, he emigrated to Kansas as a young man to teach at a small college, where he ended up staying for the rest of his long career. Far from the art centers of the coasts, he developed a highly personal style of thick, bright brushstrokes and strong color.

He painted the prairies, mountains, and canyons of the West with an intensity that recalls both Van Gogh and the Post-Impressionists, though he arrived at it largely on his own. A dedicated teacher and printmaker as well, he helped build the cultural life of his adopted region. Sandzén's glowing, energetic landscapes have earned growing recognition well beyond the Midwest.