A Brush With DeathDwight Cushman, a realist painter based in Red Lodge, Montana, creates melancholic imagery that invites viewers to contemplate the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. Drawing from his professional experience as an undertaker, Cushman weaves memento mori philosophy into his artwork serving as a powerful call to action: to live each day to its fullest, for "remember you will die."
Finding Beauty in Life's Fleeting Moments
Cushman's work isn't about morbidity, but rather about appreciating the beauty in life while acknowledging a dignity in death. His paintings gently urge us to reflect on our own mortality, not with fear, but with a renewed sense of purpose and an appreciation for the preciousness of the present.
Participation
2025- Carbon County Art Guild - Inspired by Song + Art in the Beartooth's Silent Auction + Quick Draw"
2025- Montana Shakespeare in the Parks - Commemorative Art
2025- Roosevelt Center Red Lodge, MT Group Show
2024- Carbon County Art Guild Exhibitions: "Inspired by Song" + "Art in the Beartooth's Silent Auction" + Member Show + Community Show
2023- Wyoming Game and Fish Collectible Conservation Stamp Art Show - Cheyenne, WY
2023- BAM - Bozeman Art Museum - Plein Air Quick Draw Cherry Creek Fishing Access
2023- Plein Air Fest - National Museum of Wildlife Art Jackson, WY
2022 - SAGE Gallery 12th Annual National Juried Show Sheridan, WY https://www.artinsheridan.com/juried12
2022- Plein Air Fest - National Museum of Wildlife Art (Jackson, WY) https://www.wildlifeart.org/events/plein-air-fest-etc
Community Outreach
2017-2018 Sunday Painter www.sundaypainter.org - Established, organized and led 45+ indoor/outdoor drawing and painting workshops. Great Falls, Montana http://www.sundaypainter.org/
Press & Publications
2025- Montana Shakespeare in the Park Event Program "Meet the Artist" Contest Winner Profile & Artwork sold at MSIP merchandise stands during live Shakespeare events.
2023- Exhibition Catalog "Birds of the Rocky Mountain Region" The Brinton Museum - Sheridan, WY
2018- Great Falls Tribune Montana Public Radio 89.9FM KRTV KFBB-TV KULR-8 ABC-FOX MONTANA Powell Tribune KTVQ KXLH KGPR
2022- Video Blog Interview - Yellowstone National Park : https://thatparkplace.com/putting-around-the-usa-waterfall-at-grand-canyon-of-yellowstone-a-video-interview/
2022- Powell Tribune - Powell, WY Cover Story "A Brush with Death" - April 21,2022
2022- County10.com 6 Local Artists Featured in Wyoming Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition - Wyoming Arts Council - Wyoming Arts Alliance
2018- KRTV NEWS - Broadcast News Story - Sunday, 1-28-2018 Montana
