Kevin Kelly, "Untitled (Gesture 1)"

Artist Statement

It seems to me that the story of painting was always supposed to be about uncovering creative possibilities, freezing an artistic gesture, and finding an individual identity. These artworks awkwardly occupy the space between that romanticized, painterly experience of the world and the unromantic Midwest I grew up in. My working-class upbringing made me suspicious of things not utilitarian, gestures obviously self-indulgent. Moving through adulthood, I have become more aware of the heavy-handed political and social messaging that hides subtlety amongst the trappings of my homeland. I reference concrete realities and trashy details in the found textures, colors and shapes woven into the work. The work is then built around the conflicts between concrete elements and the more painterly elements. By taking concrete and abstract references out of their normal contexts, I hope to give both a fighting chance in this conflict.

Artist Bio

Kevin Kelly was born in 1978 and raised in Colorado and Kansas. He received a bachelor’s in art education from Wichita State University in 2001 and has taught art ever since. He earned his MFA in painting from Wichita State University in 2008. His artwork is held in many private collections and has been recognized through the I Like Your Work podcast, the Golden artist residence, the Harvester Arts Community Fellowship program, and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Commission. Kelly has been featured in group and solo exhibits in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New York for the last 15 years. His work has been featured in several publications, including New American Paintings, Studio Visit magazine, and the book Wichita Artists in Their Studios.

Drawer 3- "Untitled (Gesture 1)", acrylic and acrylic paint skin on recycled paintings (handmade paper), 16”x11", 2021, $300