Burr Oak No. 5 Oil on Masonite Panel Appx. 26in. by 32in. Max Wehrle

We are often asked about our name. Many people are acquainted with the seminal early 20th Century art phenomenon "Der Blaue Reiter" , as well as
the dramatic impact this loose association of artists had on the popular perception of Art . We find the discoveries and assertions of this group and other modernist movements of this period to be an expression of a significant deepening of human understanding . It is in this impulse to transcend the superficial and the obvious and to convey more than just the visual "appearance" of a thing that we find the revelation of modern art.

We are also asked about our unusual focus on little known and unknown artists. At Blue Rider our motivations are simple; we seek to acquaint people with the reality of art as something hidden and mysterious ; art that reflects the inner and subjective life of man as opposed to mere estimations of prestige and dollar value . There are many great artists living and dead whose best " listing " was the local phone book. At Blue Rider it is our belief that even if one can't possess a Klee or a Pollock it is still possible to find and own affordable art capable of creating the expansion of pleasure and awareness that is the real fruit of modern art.

Blue Rider was founded in Key West, Florida in 1994 by Steven and Lena Maeck. Steven Maeck had a 15 year career specializing in rare and esoteric tribal rugs , operating galleries in New England and New York City before becoming a dealer in modern art . It was within the vageries of that exotic and peculiar world that the proprietors of Blue Rider developed their interest in beautiful things created by long forgotton human beings .