Wayne Ensrud (American, b. 1934) is a painter acclaimed for his naturalistic landscapes and waterscapes. Ensrud studied at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design where he trained under prominent artists including Ben Shahn, Josef Albers, Jacques Lipchitz, and Oskar Kokoschka. An esteemed Expressionist painter, Kokoschka had an especially profound influence on Ensrud’s artistic development. In Manhattan from Governor’s Island (ca. 1975), Ensrud paints a dream-like scene of the Manhattan skyline from his view on Governor’s Island, looking across the water. Viewers are swept into the painting—which features soft blue, pink, and orange hues—which features the East River filled with boats under a brightly illuminated sky. Although Ensrud is known for his figurative paintings that include portraits and still lifes, his abstract works allow him to explore form, color, and collage in different ways. Ensrud has exhibited works at institutions including the Oakland Art Museum and the Bristol Art Museum.