Alum Shares Wildlife Art in ‘Fins, Feathers’

Alumnus Casey Underwood ’14 has returned to his alma mater to exhibit his diverse talents as an outdoor wildlife artist in “Fins and Feathers: The Art of Casey Underwood” from Aug. 29-Dec. 21 in the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art’s downstairs gallery. A free, public opening reception will be Thursday, Aug. 29, 4-6 p.m.

Underwood, an illustrator and outdoorsman living in southern Montana, has become one of the more recognizable artists in the outdoor space since he found his niche and began working full time. At Westmont, Underwood’s work was primarily abstract and conceptual, but after graduating, he submitted his intricate illustrations of fish to a gallery in Fort Collins, Colorado. Then he spent a year traveling through the American West with the lone goal of fly fishing. As he honed his craft while angling wild steelhead in the Olympic Peninsula, his artwork began to sell and other galleries grew increasingly interested.

Today he frequently collaborates with outdoor recreation industries to create fishing reels, hunting knives and apparel embellished with his wilderness-inspired designs. He has a growing print collection of more than 100 fish and wildlife species, which convey respect and appreciation for nature.

Underwood grew up in Goleta and was featured in Fly Fisherman magazine in 2021 for designing artwork that corresponds with fresh and saltwater Abel Reels. “A proprietary engraving process has created beautiful, first-of-their-kind reels that will last a lifetime,” wrote Dennis Pastucha in the magazine. “Defining your art and creating a brand of your own is a trait of a talented and savvy artist. Fly-fishing culture accepts, encourages and fosters a supportive and appreciative environment for those brave souls willing to put their work out to the masses. Casey Underwood is not only a rare talent, he’s an artist and designer who draws you into his interpretation of the natural world with vibrant color and line.”