Wanelle Fitch

My lifelong fascination with horses has been the driving force behind my art, evolving in form and intensity over the decades. As a photographer, I’ve documented equine life across a wide spectrum—from wild mustangs in Montana to rescue horses, racehorses, rodeo scenes, and polo grounds. While I spent much of my career as a professional, published photographer, my most personal and enduring work has always centered around horses. Since relocating to Montana and later to Santa Fe, my creative process has undergone a powerful transformation. I began integrating mixed media into my photography—painting directly onto prints using acrylics, oils, and metallic leafing, and incorporating layered textures, symbolism, and unconventional tools. What began as an experiment has become a new artistic obsession—one that bridges realism with abstraction, motion with spirit. Now retired from commercial work, I’ve converted my entire home into a working studio, devoting myself fully to the creation of meaningful, expressive art. My recent work has resonated with collectors in Santa Fe and beyond, and I was honored to be featured on the entry ticket and promotional materials for Art Santa Fe 2024. At its core, my practice explores the dynamic connection between human and animal, discipline and freedom, beauty and raw energy. Horses remain both my subject and my muse, and I continue to explore new ways to honor their power, grace, and untamed spirit

Wanelle is a visual storyteller whose camera captures the poetry of movement, light, and soul. With over 30 years of experience, her work bridges commercial and fine art photography—ranging from the high-energy worlds of sports and fashion to the quiet intimacy of portraiture and interiors. Her journey through New York, Sydney, Los Angeles, Montana, and Santa Fe has shaped a signature style that blends technical precision with meditative intuition. A central theme in her fine art is the horse—wild, rescue, polo, rodeo, and racehorses—most often captured in motion. These works begin with her own photography and evolve through layers of acrylic, oil, and gold, silver, or bronze leaf. Her mixed-media process is both bold and unconventional, using everything from brushes and palette knives to hair curlers and toilet paper to create richly textured, expressive surfaces. Wanelle holds both an MFA and BFA in Photography from ArtCenter College of Design, as well as a degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Southern California. In addition to her studio practice, she has written and directed national television commercials, and taught photography and visual storytelling for over 30 years. She has served as an adjunct professor at ArtCenter College of Design, Flathead Valley Community College, Fullerton College, Cerritos College, Rio Hondo College, Los Angeles City College, Orange Coast College, Lag

2-D, Collage/Mixed Media, Painting (all materials)