The sunset casts dramatic colors across the waters of Governors Island, New York. Photo by Lerone Pieters.

Adirondack Park, established in eastern Upstate New York in 1892, makes up an astounding 6 million acres, making it the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States. The State of New York owns approximately 2.6 million acres of the park, while the remaining 3.4 million acres are devoted to forestry, agriculture and open space recreation. “The Adirondack Park is not a National Park,” the website notes, “there’s no fee to enter and the park doesn’t close at night, nor is it a state park, a common misconception. It’s also the largest National Historic Landmark in the United States, covering an area larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Glacier, and the Great Smokies National Parks combined.”

An autumn view of the Catskill Mountains in Shandaken, New York. Photo by Moriah Wolfe.

For those inspired by the beauty of both temperate and boreal forests, there’s also Catskill Park, a New York state-designated wilderness recreation area spanning 700,000 acres across four counties in the Catskill Mountains. The wilderness area is also home to a variety of North American wildlife like bobcats, coyotes and black bears.

A walking trail in Upstate New York in the fall. Photo by Michelle Myers.

There is truly no end to the inspiration, both cultural and geographical, across the Empire State. Continue reading the pages of this special section to learn about a few of the many artists, galleries and arts institutions based here, including Sandra Hildreth, Jamie Cassaboon, RoGallery, Arcadia Contemporary and George Billis Gallery.

George Billis Gallery, Manhattan Exit Only, oil on canvas, 38 x 60 in., by Eric Nash; George Billis Gallery, The Lavender Dress, oil on linen, 42 x 36 in., by Stephen Magsig.

After establishing his gallery in the Chelsea Art District in Manhattan for over 30 years, George Billis has moved the gallery to the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York City. The new gallery space offers a large rectangular 1,500-square foot exhibit space in addition to ample storage and two smaller gallery rooms. The gallery exhibits work from mid-career to established artists as well as secondary market. 

George Billis Gallery, Bridge, oil on paper, 36 x 26 in., by Roland Kulla.

Specializing in realism and cityscapes in particular, the gallery carries paintings, drawings and works on paper in its inventory. Veteran art dealer George Billis has worked in the New York City art world for more than three decades, witnessing changes in the art districts and the great growth of his namesake art gallery. Billis also has a gallery in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Top: The facade of Arcadia Contemporary in New York City. Bottom: Arcadia Contemporary, Last Chance, watercolor on panel, 23 x 19 in., by Brian Haberlin; Arcadia Contemporary, I Am Not Who I Appear To Be, oil and gold leaf on panel, 24 x 18 in., by Brad Kunkle.

Arcadia Contemporary emerged in 2000 with a mission: to spotlight the excellence of representational artists. In 2001, Arcadia opened its doors on Greene Street in Manhattan's Soho District, swiftly gaining global recognition for its dedication to showcasing works that exhibit both technical brilliance and distinctive, unique styles.

The exterior of RoGallery. 

Nestled in the heart of a 10,000-square-foot Long Island City warehouse is a treasure trove of prints, paintings, sculptures and more. Inside, every wall and surface is adorned with art. Even a light browse through this collection reveals pieces by legendary artists like Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Will Barnet, Hunt Slonem and Robert Indiana.

RoGallery, Cow, 2004, screenprint on both sides on aluminum, ed. of 99, signed and numbered, 16¼ x 41¼ in., by Alex Katz.

RoGallery has been operating for over four decades, and rather than set up shop in a sparse gallery in Chelsea, head purveyor Robert Rogal decided to place his roots in Queens. It was here that he amassed a collection of 30,000-plus works from every medium, style and era, all of which are available online at RoGallery.com and viewable in person by appointment only.

RoGallery, Balloon Dog (Yellow), 2015, porcelain with mirror finish, ed. of 2,300, 10½ x 10½ x 5 in., signed and numbered on verso, by Jeff Koons.

Art professionals know the gallery as a primary source for all of their artwork needs, including consignments, in-house packing and worldwide shipping, framing and more. RoGallery has fostered relationships with interior designers, art advisors, architects, museums, universities, hotels, hospitals and other trade professionals.

Jamie Cassaboon, Chess Player, graphite on paper, 20 x 33 in.

The core of Jamie Cassaboon’s artwork exists in observation. “I’m drawn to the stillness of a captured moment—where energy, movement, light and shadow converge into a larger story. Through careful rendering of the ordinary or overlooked, I hope to inspire a deeper engagement with what surrounds us immediately, and by extension, the broader world we inhabit.”

Jamie Cassaboon, Man with Cigarette,  graphite on paper, 19 x 33 in.

While the artist often focuses on the minute and detailed, he also seeks the simple beauty found in everyday life—“the lines, rhythms and humanity that connect us all. Deeper engagement with everyday moments, people, and experiences fosters a richer understanding of the world and our place within it. There is profound overlap in behavior and appearance of all people; to explore and understand one can evoke feeling and insight into all.”

Sandra Hildreth, Barnum Brook, Winter, oil on linen, 20 x 20 in.

Just five hours from New York City, the dark forests and ragged mountains of the Adirondacks are the home and inspiration for Saranac Lake artist Sandra Hildreth. Like the Hudson River School artists of the 19th century, she has explored and recorded her experiences of these “forever wild” lands that have captured her heart. Most of her oil paintings are done in plein air, as she loves the spontaneity of being totally immersed in the landscape and painting on the spot. Her paintings carry Thoreau’s message “in wildness is the preservation of the earth.” They focus on the wild, unbroken forests and jumbled boulders that are opposite of cultivated fields and groomed gardens. Signs of civilization sometimes work their way into her paintings, in contrast to the mountains in the background, telling the stories of the land. Color, light and composition guide the viewer into scenes that Adirondack hikers will recognize. Hildreth exhibits in solo, regional and national juried shows and plein air events. Her Saranac Lake studio is open by appointment. —