‘Intense,’ ‘playful’ landscapes featured in new Stamats exhibit

Exhibit explores historic connections to barns, ‘the icon of farming in Iowa’

Bob Campagna, Abbe Creek Gallery

Jul. 1, 2025 8:00 am

"Barn on Old River Road," acrylic on wood panel, Bill Stamats. (Photo courtesy of Abbe Creek Gallery)

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On Wednesday, July 2, the Abbe Creek Gallery will unveil paintings and assemblages of Cedar Rapids master artist Bill Stamats.

Titled “Back Roads and Blue Skies / Paintings and Assemblages,” the Stamats exhibition opens with an artist reception that night at 6:30 p.m. in the uptown Mount Vernon gallery. His 16-piece exhibit runs through Aug. 23.

Stamats will return to the Abbe Creek Gallery for an artist talk on Saturday, July 19 at 11:30 a.m.

"He crossed this bridge on his way up the hill," acrylic on wood panel, Bill Stamats. (Photo courtesy of Abbe Creek Gallery)

"Prairie House in Eldon," acrylic on wood, Bill Stamats. (Photo courtesy of Abbe Creek Gallery)

A Midwest artist who creates neo-regionalist artwork, Stamats’ net result for this exhibit is an intensely colored, passionately created and playfully designed collection of original paintings, which stem from his local and national meanderings.

Productions include pieces from series based on the Sac and Fox trail; barns and bridge on Rosedale Road in southeast Cedar Rapids; Three Forks, Montana; Deerfield, Massachusetts; and Watkins Glen, New York.

“People have historic connection to barns. They are the icon of farming in Iowa,” Stamats said.