56 NEBRASKAland • AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2015
Legacy of Nebraska
Artist Todd A. Williams paints 93 counties.
By Jeff Kurrus
W
ith Nebraska's 150th sesquicentennial
approaching in 2017, Central City-born artist
Todd A. Williams will create at least 93 oil
paintings, each representing a county in
Nebraska. The idea first came to Williams after
spending time in both Vienna, Austria and Prague, capitol
of the Czech Republic, creating collections of paintings
that represented both the past and present of these iconic
European cities.
Then, in 2012, he approached Nebraska State Historical
Society Executive Director Mike Smith about his idea to
create a similar project in his home state. "I wanted to travel
throughout Nebraska and capture the spirit of the state from
the eyes of an artist," Williams said.
So Williams has worked with Smith's staff to gain more of
a historical perspective of the state, while also attempting to
simply reveal the beauty of Nebraska's variety of landscapes.
Working off of photos, sketches and memories, Williams is
accomplishing these goals.
An exhibition at the Nebraska History Museum will debut
March 1, 2017, and will feature close to 125 paintings. For
more information, visit Toddwilliamsfineart.com. ■
ALL
IMAGES
©
COPYRIGHT
2015
TODD
WILLIAMS
FINE
ART.
ALL
RIGHTS
RESERVED.
Niobrara State Park, Knox County. Oil 9" by 12" (plein-air).
Lake Fremont, Dodge County. Oil 15" by 30".
Sandhill Cranes, Buffalo County. Oil 24" by 30".
End of Day, Pierce County. Oil 12" by 16".
William Frederick (Buffalo Bill) Cody, Lincoln County. Oil 20" by 16".
