It Caught My Eye

There is a quiet power in the way a structure stands against the sky. A barn, a house, a weathered facade—each holds stories, memories, and an undeniable presence. In It Caught My Eye, Utah-based artist Justin Wheatley invites viewers to consider the soul of architecture, capturing the essence of buildings as if they were living subjects.

“When I paint a barn, it’s more of a portrait to me,” Wheatley explains. “I really enjoy shadows and hard angles, kind of juxtaposed against nature.” This sentiment is at the heart of his work, where geometry meets atmosphere, and architectural forms emerge as characters in a landscape. His paintings breathe life into structures, highlighting their individuality through strong compositions, sharp contrasts, and a deep sensitivity to space.

Wheatley’s fascination with architecture deepened during his time studying abroad in Germany, where the rich history of European structures impressed upon him a profound respect for the built environment. That influence remains evident in his work, though his subjects are often rooted in the American West. The barns, houses, and buildings he paints stand as silent observers of time—some pristine, others weathered, yet all imbued with a sense of significance.

What intrigues Wheatley most is what remains unseen. Buildings reveal their exteriors to the world, but their interiors—filled with history and memory—remain hidden. He is acutely aware that behind every boarded window and peeling doorframe, stories unfold that outsiders will never fully grasp. His paintings hint at these unseen layers, capturing the tension between what is visible and what is forever concealed.

“No matter what we make, construct, or destroy, we are still surrounded by the presence of what has existed since long before our time,” Wheatley reflects. “I can’t help but feel that I am not a creator of art, only a manipulator of what already exists.” This perspective shapes his work, imbuing it with a sense of reverence for both the permanence and fragility of human-made structures. His paintings are meditations on time, memory, and the inescapable presence of history.

The title It Caught My Eye reflects Wheatley’s intuitive process. His work is driven by moments of recognition—when light strikes a roofline just so, when a shadow stretches across a wall with unexpected elegance, when a solitary structure commands attention amid the vastness of the landscape. These fleeting moments become permanent in his art.

Through a careful interplay of precision and atmosphere, Wheatley invites us to pause and look more closely. His paintings remind us that structures are more than shelters—they are markers of history, testaments to human effort, and symbols of our evolving relationship with the world around us.