Deephaven Artist Philip Noyed

Discover vivid images of stories and experiences through the work of Philip Noyed.

By: Andy Greder | From the issue: September 2011

Photo: Tate Carlson

Pieces from Philip Noyed's latest work, Pushing Limits and Liberation, was on display at The Marsh in Minnetonka.

Look at a painting by local artist Philip Noyed and you might see the journey of a marathon, a melody composed by Bach or the legend of Promethius. For the Deephaven resident, “art is about exploration and discovery,” he says. As Noyed weaves stories of his vast experiences and knowledge with bold colors and striking images, his passion for exploration is apparent.

The process of creating art is an ongoing journey for Noyed. He is continually sketching to create his own reality, and from these sketches themes emerge. However, the inspiration for these initial ideas comes from a variety of influences in Noyed’s life.

Always looking for inspiration, Noyed ventured to museums in Europe, where he was influenced by the art of some of his favorite painters, including Picasso, Matisse, Klee and Kandinsky. This continued when he was an art student at Hamline and had the opportunity to travel to Japan through an exchange program.

From the whole of his life experiences, Noyed regularly broadens his range of mediums for expression. While in Japan (prior to visiting Europe), he studied at Kansai Gaidai University, learning about calligraphy and ceramics. Upon returning home, he worked on Prince’s movie, Purple Rain, and then returned to Japan to complete a Noh Theater performance, a two-person performance focusing on movement as symbols. To this day, he continues to produce a variety of art, including oil paintings, mixed media, photography, graphic design and video production.

Noyed’s sketches are also inspired by his interactions with songs, stories and his personal accomplishments. A recent exhibit at The Marsh in Minnetonka, titled Pushing Limits and Liberation, featured Noyed’s figurative paintings based on these ideas. His work Jupiter 41 - Mozart’s Reverie, Prometheus Stealing the Fire and Pandora’s Golden Box told stories of music and mythology. In addition, the exhibit included a painting about his goals as a runner.