Meet 9 Artists Shaping the Hudson Valley Art Scene

How does the Hudson Valley’s singular natural beauty and rich cultural history shape artistic expression? INSIDE+OUT Upstate NY proudly presents an ongoing series, “In the Studio With…”—an intimate behind-the-scene spotlight that delves into the lives, work, and creative processes of the region’s most innovative artists at all levels of their careers—from emerging talents to well-established visionaries. 

Each interview is paired with a cinematic short film by Richard Hall and Mimi Young of littlebitcreates. Through fractured visual poetry, these evocative videos distill the raw energy, originality, and inspiration pulsing through each artist’s work. They illuminate how elements like texture, process, sense of place, material, light, and nature uniquely inform and transform creation.

Step inside the vibrant studios, lives, and inner worlds of the Hudson Valley’s most compelling creatives—and discover the powerful stories behind their craft.

Here are 9 Hudson Valley artists you should know right now.

MEET CONTEMPORARY ARTIST OLAF BREUNING | Website | Instagram

Olaf Breuning’s work is a fusion of humor, absurdity, and a deep curiosity about the world. Originally from Switzerland, he has spent the past 16 years living in the Hudson Valley, where its natural beauty has had a significant influence on his evolving artistic practice. Known for his photography, sculpture, and large-scale installations, Breuning’s art often blends lighthearted visual gags with poignant reflections on human nature, the environment, and universal truths. Despite his preference for art that rises above political discourse, he has recently felt compelled to address the climate crisis, creating work that is both thought-provoking and infused with his trademark wit. His installations, including public art in places like Central Park and the Whitney, invite viewers to laugh, reflect, and engage with the world in unexpected ways. Read our exclusive interview, “In the Studio With Artist Olaf Breuning.”

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MEET BESPOKE CERAMICIST R.A. PESCE | Website | Instagram

R.A. Pesce’s ceramic work is a testament to his deep connection with the natural world and his love of antiquities and design. Based in Hudson, NY, Pesce creates one-of-a-kind ceramic vessels that reflect his passion for exploring the delicate balance of volume, space, and negative space, and serving it all up in a way that is uniquely his own. His wheel-thrown pieces are infused with organic textures and deconstructed patterns that evoke the rugged beauty of the natural world. With a background as a designer and antique dealer specializing in Arts and Crafts ceramics, Pesce’s journey as an artist has evolved over time. For him, creative expression is not just a necessity but a means to foster personal growth and contribute to the world’s ongoing evolution. Read our exclusive interview, “In the Studio With Ceramicist R.A. Pesce.”

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MEET HORTICULTURIST & ARTIST ALYSON LEVY | Website | Instagram

Working from her lush garden, the Hortus Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Stone Ridge, New York, Levy preserves seeds, leaves, and flowers in luminous encaustic wax, creating vibrant, textured paintings that double as living archives. Inspired by ancient seed-preserving techniques, her pieces pulse with rhythm, color, and life. Hortus Arboretum—is both muse and medium, anchoring her work in the wild beauty of the natural world. This connection between gardening and art is central to her work, demonstrating how the act of cultivation can directly influence and enrich artistic expression.

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MEET EXPERIENTIAL ARTIST AMANDA RUSSO RUBMAN | Website | Instagram | Inside+Out Spotlight

Amanda Russo Rubman is a multi-disciplinary artist whose creative practice is driven by a deep love for the Hudson Valley. Her work celebrates light, texture, and the surrounding landscape.  As the founder of AR Studio, she blends film, fashion, and sculpture to create immersive invitations to viewers to engage both physically and emotionally. Known for her ability to evolve with each project, Amanda fosters a sense of shared experience through her work, often involving local artists and makers. Whether through installations, events, or collaborations, her art is a constant invitation to explore beauty, imagination, and the connections between us all. Read our exclusive interview, “In the Studio With Experiential Artist Amanda Russo Rubman,” and check out Amanda Russo Rubman’s Inside+Out Spotlight.

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MEET CONTEMPORARY ARTIST ANDREW LYGHT | Instagram

Born in Guyana and shaped by years in Montreal, New York City, and Rome, Lyght’s work spans continents and mediums, blending personal memory with modernist abstraction. His vibrant geometric and abstract compositions are a beautiful reflection of his ability to “walk the line” between past and present, freedom and form. Now living in Kingston, Lyght finds inspiration in the natural world surrounding him, particularly the serene beauty of the Ponckhockie Creek. Each morning, he greets the day with a quiet anticipation, ready to embrace the beauty and possibilities that unfold before him. Read our exclusive interview, “In the Studio With Contemporary Artist Andrew Lyght.”

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MEET MIXED MEDIA ARTIST YOKO IZU | Website | Instagram 

Yoko Izu’s mixed-media work is a reflection of her journey through identity, memory, and culture. Born in Woodstock, NY, as a second-generation Japanese American, Yoko’s art is deeply influenced by her heritage and experiences living in places like New York City and South Africa. Through abstract forms and vibrant layers of texture and color, she blends the complexities of her American upbringing with the rich cultural traditions of Japan. Her work becomes a bridge—connecting continents, histories, and the emotional depth of belonging. In the studio, Yoko’s process is a deeply personal one, allowing her to explore the shifting notions of home, both as an artist and a human being. Read our exclusive interview, “In the Studio With Mixed Media Artist Yoko Izu.”

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MEET MIXED MEDIA ARTIST ELIZABETH KEITHLINE | Website | Instagram

Elizabeth Keithline’s art is an ongoing exploration of human expression, destruction, and transformation. Known for her innovative wire and metal sculptures, Elizabeth’s work challenges perceived boundaries of materials and ideas, blending technical skill with deep conceptual inquiry. She began experimenting with sculpture techniques at a young age, developing methods like “Lost Box,” where metal wire is woven around forms and then burned away to leave behind a memory of shape. Now based in the Hudson Valley, Elizabeth’s work continues to evolve, drawing inspiration from the natural world, contemporary life, and the pressing questions of self-destruction and self-extension. Through her sculptures and installations, Elizabeth invites viewers to engage with these complex concepts and the relationships in their own lives in newly inspired ways. Read our exclusive interview “In the Studio With Artist Elizabeth Keithline.”

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MEET MULTIMEDIA ARTIST DAVID MCINTYRE | Website | Instagram

David McIntyre’s multimedia art is a journey through veils of perception, time, and the unseen forces that shape our world. A photographer, filmmaker, and photojournalist, McIntyre’s work pays homage to the natural world, capturing both the visible and the invisible in equal measure. His Walking series, inspired by Henry David Thoreau, invites viewers to connect with the Earth without mediation, allowing the landscape and its inherent qualities to speak for themselves. With a painterly eye and poet’s tongue, McIntyre layers images in a way that reflects the fluidity of experience and the rawness of human perception. His work is a constant search for the primal forces of inspiration, or Awen (Gaelic), that flow through all creation, reminding us to slow down and truly engage with the world around us. Read our exclusive interview “In the Studio With Multimedia Artist David McIntyre.”

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MEET ABSTRACT ARTIST JOEL LONGENECKER | Website | Instagram

Joel Longenecker’s work is a visceral exploration of the Earth’s cycles, captured through thick, textured layers of oil paint. His paintings reflect the rugged landscapes of the Hudson Valley and beyond, as well as his connection with nature. Drawing on the slow churn of geologic time and the interplay of creation and destruction, Longenecker’s process is as physical as it is conceptual. He scrapes and builds up layers of pigment to create topographical relics that mirror the land itself. Inspired by his daily balance between studio work and tending to his garden, his art serves as both a meditation on the natural world and a call for environmental advocacy, inviting us to reflect on our interconnectedness and responsibility. Read our exclusive interview “In the Studio With Abstract Artist Joel Longenecker.”

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Thank you, littlebitcreates, for the fabulous artist videos!

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