Joshua Adam Risner is a fine artist who paints not just faces, but legacies. Best known for his oil portraiture and philosophical approach to realism, Risner’s artistry honors traditional techniques while engaging deeply with contemporary meaning. Now based in West Michigan and serving as Artist in Residence at the Michigan State Capitol, Risner’s body of work includes iconic commissions, deeply personal allegories, and timeless explorations of the human spirit.

From Sign Painter to State Capitol Portraitist

Raised in rural central Ohio, Risner began his creative career in the commercial world, first as a sign painter, then as a graphic designer, creative director, and business owner. But at age thirty, he made a defining shift: he returned to school and earned a BFA in painting with an art history minor from Ashland University. Encouraged by faculty who recognized his singular vision, Risner went on to earn an MFA from Kendall College of Art and Design in Michigan with a full fellowship.

It was a serendipitous job posting that led him to the Michigan State Capitol. Hired initially for his decorative painting skills, Risner soon became responsible for maintaining and restoring intricate historical finishes. But his reputation as a portrait artist quickly took hold, and today he holds two official titles: Master Decorative Painter and Artist in Residence at the Michigan State Capitol.

A Living Legacy in Oil

Four of Risner’s portraits are on permanent display at the Michigan State Capitol, including a monumental painting of Governor Rick Snyder and a powerful portrait of William Webb Ferguson, Michigan’s first African-American representative. He also painted a formal portrait of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, currently displayed in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C.

These works are not merely likenesses, they carry presence, motion, and reverence:

“The true end of art is not to imitate a fixed material condition, but to represent a living motion.”

This quote from 19th-century American landscape painter George Inness has become a guiding principle in Risner’s artistic philosophy.

Tonalism and Allegory: Painting Beyond Realism

Risner’s creative process is rooted in two deep currents: tonalism and allegory.

In his tonal works, Risner draws inspiration from both iconography and the atmospheric, spiritual qualities championed by Inness. These paintings are not about hyper-realistic detail, they are about the sense of presence, breath, and life.

His allegorical work explores a more conceptual terrain, combining historical symbols with contemporary introspection. The result is a visual language that feels timeless yet deeply personal. His work layers contemporary personal meaning onto traditional symbols. It’s a search for understanding, not just representation.

A Classical Heart in a Contemporary World

Risner’s devotion to classical training is rare in the modern art world. He mixes his own oil paints, builds his own frames, and prepares canvases using techniques rooted in centuries-old traditions. But this is not nostalgia, it’s an act of preservation and evolution.

“In our contemporary rush for novelty, we often undervalue the insights of the past,” he says. His goal is to contribute to the ongoing artistic dialogue, not to discard the past, but to build on it.

That dialogue includes a gentle resistance to trends of irony or overt politicization in art. Instead, Risner strives for sincerity, craftsmanship, and a celebration of beauty. These are qualities he believes can still move and inspire.

Giving Back: Teaching the Next Generation

Risner’s journey has come full circle with a return to his alma mater, Ashland University. He now offers a residency for undergraduate students, an extraordinary opportunity for one-on-one mentorship with a nationally recognized artist. 

Joshua Risner: Portraiture, Presence, and the Persistence of Beauty

Joshua Adam Risner stands as a bridge between centuries of artistic tradition and the ongoing questions of our time. His portraits are more than commissions, they are enduring testaments to the people, values, and aspirations we hold dear.

You can learn more about Joshua Risner and view his work by visiting the Michigan State Capitol, Risner’s Instagram, or checking out his studio, Rabbit Hill.