River’s End Gallery of Waukesha, Features Painter Anthony Soskich
The story began in 2007. An artist was exhibiting at the Wisconsin State Fair grounds. In his down time, he decided to call galleries in the area and ask them if they wanted to come and see his exhibit. That is when the magic happened.
Joan Skimmons, the owner of the River’s End Gallery asked her husband, John Miota, if he
wanted to go the fair. Joan and John found the exhibit they were looking for and were blown away by Anthony Soskich’s impressionist paintings. They love impressionism and had spent many hours at museums in the USA and Europe learning about the masters. They could not believe that right in front of them at the State Fair was a local master.
The River’s End Gallery owner decided right then that she had to represent Anthony’s works. Over the 16 years Anthony has been in the gallery, many very happy clients have paintings for their homes and offices. Other artists have also purchased Anthony’s small paintings as inspiration for their own art journey.
Anthony has an interesting story. Austrian born artist Anthony Soskich immigrated to the United States as a child. His family’s migration ended in Chicago where he developed a lifelong love of the arts. Anthony received his degree in Fine Arts and History at North Park College in Chicago. According to Anthony, “Painting is a very personal adventure and I feel pleased when others are moved and enjoy the experience.”
In the past fifty years of artistic endeavor, Anthony developed a style that is representative of his passion and love of the arts. Though his range of creativity is broad and vast in many mediums, he has always returned to his first and foremost love…plein air and studio painting with acrylics and oil colors. Though starting with the vibrancy of acrylic expression in abstracts and the “Pop Art” culture of the 1960’s, Anthony’s journey lead him to impressionism. Anthony explains: “Being an artist is an essential part of my life.”
Anthony’s style uses an old-world glazing method when creating his oil paintings. This glazing method has allowed him to “capture the light,” to enhance and create a vibrancy that is represented in Anthony’s current body of work in the impressionism/realism style.
The gallery owner, Joan said: “Much of the gallery’s reputation for high quality large paintings came from representing Anthony Soskich. Anthony’s attempt to communicate and evoke emotions can be seen in each work of art from his 36″x 48″ oil paintings to his 8”x10” little oil paintings. Due to age and some health issues, Anthony has expanded his exhibit at the gallery to ensure that as many people as possible get to own his work while he can enjoy their reactions. And, in partnership with the gallery, Anthony has special priced his paintings.”
Anthony said, “Some wear their hearts out on their sleeves; I put my heart and mind out on the canvas for all to see.” Among his most satisfying of all achievements, are the weekly art classes he teaches. This allows Anthony to give back to others by passing on his love and talent to bring out the creativity of his students young and old.
Anthony has never lost sight of his upbringing, his struggle as an immigrant from the old Lill Avenue neighborhood in Chicago to the now successful artistic career between his homes in Illinois and Williams Bay, WI. When he is not painting, Anthony loves to surround himself with family and friends. You can always see the welcome sign out at his little white cottage in Wisconsin. And, Wednesday–Saturday you can see Anthony’s paintings.
River’s End Gallery
380 W. Main St. | Waukesha, WI 53186
riversendgallery.com
262-780-1191
This article is from the EY July 2023 Issue