Horned Frog Artist Featured by Fort Worth Opera, Kimbell Art Museum

Fort Worth native and contemporary Western artist Kevin Chupik ’92 has long been inspired by the West. Living in and exploring the Southwest – including Tucson, Arizona and Boulder, Colorado – Chupik’s artistic lens showcases traditional Western scenery elements juxtaposed with vintage modernity.

“Tucson is where I grew up and where my aesthetic was formed. Being at the foot of the Catalinas and exploring that terrain really had an effect on what I’d do later,” said the TCU College of Fine Arts alumnus. “It’s just an offshoot of who I’ve always been, and it seems a very natural thing for me.”  

Chupik’s artwork was recently showcased in a multimedia concert titled Cowboys & Culture at the Kimbell Art Museum in partnership with Fort Worth Opera. This was a full-circle moment for Chupik, who took classes and visited the Kimbell and the Fort Worth Modern Art Museum while pursuing his undergraduate degree in the School of Art.

“I’m astounded that I made some very specific goals and wishes in those classes and, in a lot of ways, those things are coming true with this collaboration,” Chupik said.  

The unique concert format paired Chupik’s paintings with complementary opera repertoire, all depicting Western scenes and imagery. The performance also featured MET star Clifton Forbis, Fort Worth Opera’s Hattie Mae Lesley Resident Artists and on-stage interviews with Chupik, exploring Fort Worth’s identity and offering a musical tribute to Cowtown.

Chupik has carried lessons learned during his time as a Horned Frog throughout his career, citing faculty mentor Jim Woodson as particularly influential.

“Comparing my TCU experience to other places, it was stellar. Especially the interdisciplinary collaboration with the museums, it’s really unmatched except for some major cities like New York or Chicago,” he said. “TCU continues to set my standards high for what I do and where I’m from. I’m more rich for it.”  

To learn more about Chupik and his work, visit his website.