Santa Classics

Santa Classics is a new series of images created by artist, photographer and Santa devotee, Ed Wheeler. Wheeler imagines Santa entering into the great masterworks of art, with humor and reverence for the originals. 

Wheeler has researched hundreds of paintings and finds that certain compositions beckon to him for a “Santa intervention.” Often Santa replaces a main figure in a painting; sometimes he is added to a group composition or may even be the single human presence in a landscape. Wheeler’s intent is to pay homage to the original paintings while offering art lovers an additional reason to smile. Once a painting is selected, Wheeler embarks on a multi-step process to fully integrate Santa into the lighting, brushstrokes and tonal values of a particular painting. The lighting in the studio must match that of the original artwork: this is critical to maintaining the fidelity of the original. Wheeler’s meticulous attention to detail, lighting and relationships between figures lead to another kind of art experience.

From hanging colored lights to the dream-like footbridges of Giverny, to rubbing elbows with Moulin Rouge courtesans, Santa’s got more up his sleeve than presents. 

The Art Museum will present 32 works, including 3 lenticular prints, in the Santa Classics exhibit. 

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website