ATTENTION: RTPI will be closed Monday, November 11, in observance of Veteran's Day

Chautauqua County En Plein Air

On a beautiful weekend in September of 2022, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute hosted our first annual Plein Air Festival. Over the course of two days, artists gathered to capture the beauty of local scenery in Chautauqua County. Chautauqua County en Plein Air features artwork from eleven artists that was created at five locations within Chautauqua County.

En plein air means “in open air.” In the early 19th century, painters such as Claude Monet (1840-1926) and Georges Seurat (1859-1891) were increasingly interested in capturing the natural light outdoors. In the same tradition, the paintings seen here reflect careful observation, artistic interpretation, and a sensitivity to the beauty that the natural world has to offer.