Residing in Sedona, Arizona as well as Syracuse, New York, Tad Retz embarked on his artistic career directly upon graduating from high school in 2015. In those years, his drive and daily focus on his craft has resulted in a precipitous rise in national art circles. In 2021, Tad was listed in “10 Artists to Watch” in PleinAir Magazine and his work continues to evolve with a sophistication well beyond his years. Two years before that he was featured in Southwest Art Magazine’s “21 under 31” article on up-and-coming young artists.

​

Retz travels widely and paints alongside artists he admires, and has begun teaching workshops throughout the US.  His most recent body of work is a result of his desire to experiment with paint manipulation and to see what different tools can do to the surface quality. He attempts to capture the timeless atmosphere of old American, Russian and European masters of impressionism, of which he devoutly studies.

​

Reflects Retz, “The feeling of being surprised at the end of each painting session is invigorating. Through using new tools, thicker paint, and fast drying mediums, I am discovering new ways to suggest reality in my paintings. Through the act of scraping paint off, applying unmixed paint with palette knives, calligraphic brush marks, dragging tissues through the thick wet paint, and so on; I am able to achieve the look that I have been striving for – a look that is timeless and poetic and more in line with who I am as an artist.”

​

Paintings in private collections throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, and Singapore

 

Miscellaneous Achievements:

2019 – Southwest Art Magazine, “21 under 31” article on up-and-coming artists

2020 - First self-published book, 200 sold worldwide

2021 - Contributor to “A Landscape Painters Workbook” by Mitchell Albala

2021 - Art featured on HGTV “Good Bones” season 6

2021 – Southwest Art Magazine, “10 Artists to Watch” feature

2022 - Featured in The Artists Magazine, “The Storytellers”

2017-the present - Conducting painting workshops coast to coast, teaching techniques and mediums

Creator of The Retz Easel and The Retz Box. Handcrafted wooden painting equipment sold worldwide

​

Exhibition History:

“Elysian Dreams” Solo show. Paul Scott Gallery. Scottsdale, AZ. 2025

“144” Paul Scott Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ. 2024

“5th Annual Invitational Group Exhibition” Vining Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2024

“Journey to Yellowstone” The Storytellers. 2024

“The French Connection” Beth Clary Schwier Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2024

“Two Views” Edgewood Gallery, Syracuse, NY. 2024

“Lasting Impressions” Mockingbird Gallery, Bend, OR. 2023

“Solo Show” Folly Cove Fine Art, Rockport, MA. 2023

“Holiday Small Works” Aguiar Fine Art, Portsmouth, NH. 2023

“144” Paul Scott Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ. 2023

“RAA&M National 2023” RAA&M, Rockport, MA. 2023

“4th Annual Invitational Group Exhibition” Vining Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2023

“The White Mountains and Beyond” Aguiar Fine Art, Portsmouth, NH. 2023

“Return to Camden” Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, ME. 2023

“Locals Only” Baldwin Avenue Gallery, Sierra Madre, CA. 2023

“Spring Open House” Hamilton Center for the Arts, Hamilton, NY. 2023

“New Juried Members Show” RAA&M, Rockport, MA. 2022

“RAA&M National 2022” RAA&M, Rockport, MA. 2022

“3rd Annual Invitational Group Exhibition” Vining Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2022

“Stonington and Beyond” Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, ME. 2022

“Modern Masters of Impressionism” Folly Cove Fine Art, Rockport, MA. 2022

“The Desert 2.0” Sentient Academy, Provo, UT. 2022

“Storytellers Pop-up Show” Heirloom Art Co. Provo, UT. 2021

“2nd Annual Invitational Group Exhibition” Vining Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2021

“Pas de Deux” Camden Falls Gallery. Camden, ME. 2021

“The Storytellers: The Desert” online exhibition, Spring 2021

“Plein Air Exhibition” Sugarlift Gallery, New York, NY. 2020

“The Storytellers” Heirloom Art Co. Provo, UT. 2020

“Three Part Harmony” Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, ME. 2020

“Grand Opening of Vining Gallery” Vining Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. 2020

“Adirondack Inspired” Keene Arts. Keene, NY. 2020

“Biophilia” Sugarlift Gallery. Brooklyn, NY. 2020

“Landscape Today” Harrison Center. Indianapolis, IN. 2019

“Shadow and Light” Hueys Fine Art Gallery. Santa Fe, NM. 2019

“When Artists Come to Visit” Camden Falls Gallery. Camden, ME 2019

“Painting The Town” Gallery Nucleus. Los Angeles, CA. 2019

“In Open Air” Clowes Memorial Hall. Indianapolis, IN 2018

“The Artists Journey” Camden Falls Gallery. Camden, ME. 2018

 

​