Philip Frey is a nationally exhibiting artist best known for his bold paintings of Maine’s coastline, landscape, and working waterfronts. His primary focus is color and light, and the inherent forms found in nature, interiors, and figures. He paints from direct perception, preferring the dynamic quality, richness, and challenges of working from life.
In 2016, the University of Maine Museum of Art mounted a solo exhibition of Frey’s work. His work has been highlighted in several books, including Art of Acadia, 2016, and Paintings of Portland, 2018, both by brothers Carl Little and David Little, and in numerous publications, including Art New England, Gettysburg Review, Maine Policy Review, and Maine Sunday Telegram.
Frey’s work is held in private and corporate collections both nationally and internationally, including those of writer Harlan Coben, Dick Wolf Films, Representative Chellie Pingree, Donald Sussman, and the University of Maine Museum of Art.
Frey studied at Columbus College of Art and Design and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Painting from Syracuse University in 1990. He is a longtime Buddhist practitioner and has traveled to Nepal and India to study with renowned teachers. In 1995 he became involved in the Ellsworth Meditation Center and remains an active member. Frey lives in Downeast Maine, where he maintains a full-time studio nestled in the woods.