Bill Acheff (Alaskan Athabascan heritage) had an interest in painting at a young age but never dreamt of becoming a professional painter. It took a chance encounter with Italian artist Roberto Lupetti in a hair salon to reawaken his artistic aspirations. After a European-style apprenticeship with Lupetti, Acheff dedicated himself to painting and honed the classic trompe l’oeil (“fools the eye”) style of realism. In his compositions, Acheff frequently includes objects and themes indicative of the American Southwest. His work often contains artifacts from different Native American cultures, for which he has a special affinity. As Acheff explains, “Artifacts and traditions of the past seem to hold more mystical and aesthetic value than those of contemporary times.” In 1973, Acheff moved to Taos, a major turning point in his career which allowed him to find his niche and develop his style. When asked about motivators for his practice, Acheff states, “I do it for the pure joy of painting . . . and I hope my paintings bring people inner peace.”

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