Colby A. Sanford at Alma Gallery

"I’ve always tried to maintain an honest approach. For me, it’s just a painting—the subject has always been the meaning. The painting itself shouldn’t get in the way of that."

"Working with a wider palette allows you to step back and see your work in a new light. I think that can be scary—at least it was for me—to take that step back. It’s like wondering how much of my success or my voice comes from sticking to these colors. If I let go of that, does it mean letting go of part of who I am? But I don’t think that’s a real fear—it feels unfounded."

“I love the unfound edges and the search for the unfinished. In studies, there’s so much rawness—the visible layers of paint make it feel more like a memory to me. It adds ambiguity, mirroring how we actually experience life, with its peripheries and fleeting impressions of what we see.”

Colby is known for his technically brilliant use of acrylic paint, having mastered the medium in a way that feels authentic to his own experience. This exhibition features several original works on panel, alongside a new, expansive body of work created on paper. Colby’s intentional use of acrylic allows him to push the boundaries of traditional sketchbook methods. The sketches and color studies gain added potency because of the medium.

View Collection Here

"I’ve always tried to maintain an honest approach. For me, it’s just a painting—the subject has always been the meaning. The painting itself shouldn’t get in the way of that."

“I love the unfound edges and the search for the unfinished. In studies, there’s so much rawness—the visible layers of paint make it feel more like a memory to me. It adds ambiguity, mirroring how we actually experience life, with its peripheries and fleeting impressions of what we see.”