Fairview Museum to feature ‘True Grit’ art exhibition by Utah artist A. Dawn Riddle
Raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and now based in Utah, A. Dawn Riddle creates artwork rooted in landscape, memory, and emotional storytelling. Inspired by mountain heritage, wildlife, and the quiet resilience found in everyday life, her work explores themes of belonging, place, and connection to the natural world.
FAIRVIEW — The Fairview Museum will host a special open house on June 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. to celebrate the opening of “True Grit,” a solo exhibition by Utah artist A. Dawn Riddle. The exhibit will remain on display through Aug. 28, giving visitors throughout the summer an opportunity to experience Riddle’s distinctive blend of landscape, memory and emotional storytelling.
Raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and now living in Utah, Riddle creates artwork deeply rooted in her connection to place, family heritage and the natural world. Working primarily in oil and mixed media, her paintings explore themes of belonging, resilience and the emotional bonds people form with the landscapes they call home.
Riddle’s artistic journey has taken her from the mountains of the southeastern United States to the mountain valleys of Utah. Along the way, she studied under renowned Utah artist J. Kirk Richards at his academy in Provo and later expanded her artistic perspective while studying in Switzerland with artist Patrick Devonas.
After relocating to Utah, Riddle found an unexpected sense of familiarity in the region’s mountain scenery. The Manti-La Sal Mountains reminded her of the Blue Ridge Mountains where she was raised, inspiring a body of work that reflects on memory, identity and the enduring influence of home.
Those influences are evident throughout “True Grit,” a collection of paintings that explores endurance, personal identity and the emotional weight carried within both landscapes and life experiences. Her work often features western scenes, horses and mountain vistas, capturing moments that feel both deeply personal and universally recognizable.
Through her paintings, Riddle seeks to preserve stories and emotions connected to the land, highlighting the grit and determination found in both nature and everyday life. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on their own connections to place, heritage and the experiences that shape them.
Museum visitors attending the June 12 open house will have the opportunity to meet the artist, learn more about her creative process and view the collection in a welcoming community setting.
Riddle credits much of her success and ability to pursue her artistic career to the unwavering support of her husband, David J. Riddle, for which she says she is eternally grateful.
The public is invited to attend the free opening reception on June 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fairview Museum. The exhibition will remain on display through Aug. 28.
