Art

Item Description

ARTIST:

ASA KENNEDY

ARTIST STATEMENT:

There is a strange harmony to the desert where I grew up; an excess of empty space filled with brilliant colors and sporadic geological formations that distract from the larger vacancy. These qualities influenced my work not only in landscape painting, but conceptual and geometric work as well.

Part of my approach toward color is connected to sound. Each are defined by tone and frequency; I try to relate auditory tones and their harmony when selecting color palates. The aim is to hit on a color scheme that will vibrate the image, balancing a contrast between empty skies and active foreground. The surreal qualities in my work are also extensions of the desert environment. It is not a normal place, and contains some magic within its spirit. This promotes the freedom for me to invent my own landscapes and choose colors that may be tuned a little bit off of what it ‘really’ looks like.

These concepts, along with shaping canvases and painting geometric impossibilities, arise from a youthful interest in architecture. The common thread in my work is the illusion. I’ve always had an affinity to keep people wondering and I always want a part of my work to illicit a double take. Beyond that, I like to push further, building on my strengths and improving my weaknesses. In that I explore new ideas and techniques, and practice until they are solid so I can have an ever expanding skill set.

28" x 39.5"

Materials: 

ARTIST BIO:

Asa Kennedy was born in a trailer on the outskirts of Santa Fe, New Mexico. No records are available as to whether or not lightning struck that night.

As the millennium came to close, Asa moved to Portland, Oregon to attend a private Liberal Arts college with the focus of acquiring a degree in fine arts. Two semesters were plenty of time to understand that this bill could not be paid. He remained in Portland for nine years continuing to hone a painting craft, and 2005 arrived his first solo exhibition. It was created behind the guise that had school been completed then the next step would be to present a body of work. So Asa took this step to keep pace, more shows followed and quickly he was an active part of a buzzing creative community.

He also took to mural painting, participated in group shows, submitted entries for public art work, and helped run a cooperative studio gallery. Along with this Asa joined Portland Mural Defense, a group dedicated to rewrite zoning laws in partnership with the city of Portland to allow mural painting more accessibility.

In late 2009 Asa returned to Albuquerque, New Mexico to experience home for the first time as an adult, and to explore the natural light source as part of the painting craft. Business continued: more murals, more public art submissions, and more development in painting technique. Then in late spring 2015 Asa moved once again to Reno, Nevada to contribute to the growing creative community and find opportunity to push his art practice forward. In that time he has exhibited a solo show at the Potentialist Workshop, competed in the Circus Circus Mural Marathon, participated in the Reno Mural Expo, built a large body of studio work, and completed several murals around Reno. Most recently he exhibited a new body of studio work in a group show at Sierra Arts.

Item Special Note

ART IS LOCATED IN RENO, NEVADA. OUT OF STATE BUYERS (INCLUDING THOSE LOCATED IN SOUTHERN NEVADA AND OUTLYING RURAL COUNTIES) WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL SHIPPING FEES.