Boulder residents know the magic of Colorado’s mountain landscapes—the way light hits the Flatirons at sunrise, the stillness of an alpine lake, the drama of an afternoon storm rolling over the peaks. Award-winning painter Jay Moore has spent over three decades translating that beauty onto canvas.

Based in Parker, Colorado, Moore’s oil paintings of Colorado’s mountains, rivers, and wildlife have earned him national recognition, museum exhibitions, and collectors across the American West.

From Banking Family to Fine Art

Moore’s path to art wasn’t obvious. His family had deep roots in Denver’s financial world—his father and uncles all held prominent positions in the city’s banking institutions. It was the encouragement of his high school art teacher that persuaded his family to support his creative aspirations, leading him to the Art Institute of Colorado.

After graduation, Moore spent a decade in graphic design and commercial illustration. But one constant remained: his love for the outdoors.

A Coffee Shop Discovery

Moore showcased his early landscape pieces in a Downtown Denver coffee shop, where his talent caught the eye of a local art dealer. That moment launched his career.

He went on to create commissioned works for private ranches throughout the western United States and Canada—more than 100 projects in total. While those commissions provided stability, they didn’t bring wide exposure. His persistence paid off when art magazine editors began recognizing his talent, leading to features, advertising campaigns, and gallery representation.

Family Life Shapes His Process

When his wife was pregnant with their first child, Moore scaled back his plein air travels. He began using small outdoor studies to create larger works in his studio—a transition that has defined his practice for the past three decades.

Fly Fishing and Finding Inspiration

A passionate fly fisherman, Moore draws inspiration from Colorado’s mountain rivers and lakes—the same waters Boulder-area anglers know well. In recent years, he has embraced incorporating wildlife into his landscapes, capturing the animals he encounters on his adventures.

Where to Find His Work

Moore owns a gallery in Downtown Parker—about an hour from Boulder—open by appointment. It’s a long way from the banking career his family expected, but for Moore, every canvas is proof that following your passion can lead somewhere extraordinary.

He is also represented by Astoria Fine Art in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Saks Galleries in Denver, and the Shaun Horne Gallery in Crested Butte.

Reid Friedenberg University of Colorado Alumni

Reid Friedenberg is a University of Colorado Boulder alum with a BSBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and a minor in Creative Technology and Design. From Cleveland to Boulder to New York City, Reid is an early-career creative driven by storytelling, culture, and community. Fashion-obsessed, music-loving, singer-songwriting cinephile and self-proclaimed wino, he pursues creative projects across multiple disciplines. He is especially drawn to work that blends creativity with human connection, and believes the best stories are the ones that make people feel seen.