A Visit with Painter Tamalin Baumgarten on Cuttyhunk Island
I recently had the pleasure of visiting painter Tamalin Baumgarten on Cuttyhunk Island. Based in Spokane, Washington, Baumgarten spends her summers on Cuttyhunk, one of the Elizabeth Islands between Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. She founded and co-directs the Cuttyhunk Island Artists’ Residency (CIAR) at her grandfather’s historic island home, The Avalon. While she keeps a larger studio on the mainland, her time on the island is spent largely painting plein air and participating in the landscape, gleaning inspiration to carry her through the Washington winters.
In her own words: Baumgarten is known for dreamlike coastal scenes that capture the essence of a place through a blend of observation and imagination. With a muted, lyrical palette and minimalist compositions, her paintings capture fleeting moments shaped by the quiet poetry of wind, light, and sky.
Her work feels particularly connected to Cuttyhunk. The island has just ten year-round residents, but becomes a wholesome summer destination in the summer. With 300 acres of protected land, five miles of coastline, and no cars (only boats, golf carts, bikes, and feet!) it’s a serene and special New England enclave. Baumgarten’s paintings beautifully embody its atmosphere: raking afternoon light, never-ending ocean views punctuated by crisp white sails, and the bygone feeling of a place just a boat ride away from the real world.
That same sense of place carries into CIAR, a residency dedicated to giving artists “the time and setting to refocus their energy on their creative process within a supportive community, while enriching the cultural vitality of Cuttyhunk Island.” During the residencies, CIAR brings together artists, scientists, critics, musicians, and writers for community events and professional exchange, culminating in openings where visitors can see the residents’ work created during their time on the island.
The residency’s visiting artists have included Alex Kanevsky, Hollis Heichemer, Anne Harris, Margaret Bowland, Hilary Harkness, Alexandra Grant, Duke Riley, Mario Robinson, Amy Bennett, Aleah Chapin, Claudia Keep, and Randall Exon, along with visiting scientists, writers, critics, mentors, and workshop leaders.
My visit to Cuttyhunk reinspired my appreciation for the slowness of summer. No reason to hurry, no appointments to get to, and no risk of FOMO. It was especially fun to see my home of Martha’s Vineyard from the other side of the Sound.
Tamalin’s work captures so many elements I find remarkable about the islands: the sparkling light as it bounces off the ocean, a cool salty breeze, the hazy end-of-day light, and a feeling of nostalgia specific to a well-loved place. Her paintings feel like a fleeting summer sunset at the end of childhood, when everything is about to change. They’re dreamlike while also echoing the landscape and life my family and I experience on MV, which makes them feel even more special.
Baumgarten’s exhibition at The Granary Gallery opens Friday, August 21st. A sneak peek of images can be found below!
Tamalin Baumgarten’s work at Granary Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard
Closer to the Artist
Studio visits and gallery relationships offer a deeper understanding of an artist’s process, context, and point of view, often shaping how we guide clients through discovery and collecting.
Katie Morse
Katie joined the team in 2024, bringing a business education and a lifelong connection to galleries. Raised on Martha's Vineyard, she spent summers in her family's galleries, learning the value of thoughtful relationships between artists, patrons and place. A semester at Roberts Projects in Los Angeles expanded her perspective on contemporary art.