Denver-area artist Jay Moore has spent more than 30 years painting the mountains, rivers, and wildlife of Colorado. Based in Downtown Parker, the award-winning landscape painter has earned national recognition, museum exhibitions, and a devoted collector contributing to Denver’s thriving art scene.

From Banking Family to Fine Art

Moore’s journey into art wasn’t expected. 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 ultimately 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 throughout: his love for the outdoors.

A Coffee Shop Discovery

Moore showcased his early landscape pieces in a Downtown Denver coffee shop, where a local art dealer noticed his talent. 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. 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, Colorado, open by appointment. After three decades of painting Colorado’s landscapes, he’s still hiking deeper into the backcountry, still chasing the light, and still finding new ways to capture the state he’s called home his entire life.

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

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.