Reuben Cheatem was born and raised in Des Moines, IA. He received his B.F.A. from The University of Kansas in 2003.
His work is characterized by a distinct attention to detail and masterful use of color. His preferred bright palette is a reflection of his desire to let his environment influence and inform his artistic choices. His use of color reflects the vibrancy of everything from the architecture, to the local clothing and textiles, to even the food of his favorite places he’s lived, in New Orleans and Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. His use of stripes echoes the rhythms of New Orleans brass bands and jazz music and the waves of the Caribbean Sea, where a short walk from home would take him for daily morning meditation in admiration of the sunrise. In the fall of 2022, Reuben was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer and spent the next year in treatment and recovery, including 3 surgeries and chemotherapy. He carries on today, healed and thriving!
