Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Pinkerton.

Hi Kevin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

I guess it all started as a kid who loved to draw and paint in high school continued studying art and then at the high school some art school experience then real life begins as student artist. It was very interesting time to be in the Art community in the late 70s and early 80s and then as a young adult I traveled a lot Europe and there was a time in the late 80s that I went to culinary school in New York City the French culinary institute I received certificate in the culinary arts in 1987. After that, I worked in several five star hotels in Manhattan and continued to pursue my art career in my free time. I always get dedicated a time for my art. And 1991 my wife and I moved to Taiwan and I had the opportunity to be able to work full-time as an artist had many exhibitions in Taiwan and Taipei in various other cities in Asia at that time I was in a group show in a gallery and Soho so I came back to the United States for that I also entered the restaurant business in Taiwan and had three different restaurant locations are also was the lecturer at a local university and then in the spring of 2019 my wife and I returned to the United States. after 28 years abroad. We settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan to be close to our daughter and son-in-law. Upon returning, I resumed my art practice full-time..

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

I’ve had many obstacles and challenges to say the least. I think in general being an artist or creative and not only the visual arts, but music fashion, dance, writing we all have many obstacles and challenges in our daily art practice. I had one very large obstacle in my art career. I’m moved to Taiwan a foreign country. Not knowing the language, the cultural rules and all the do’s and don’ts. So that helped me, but it took a long time. It wasn’t something that happened overnight . And it was hard to integrate yourself among the local artist community and it being such a small country. Every artist knew every artist so I got to know some artist in the local Art group and was invited to participate in several group shows with them I was still welcome, but was still considered an outsider at times. And after about a year, I had my first solo show in Taipei Taiwan that was very well received and happened to get introduced to an American art critic teacher and
Fulbright Scholar who attended my show so that relationship helped in many ways to get over some obstacles. But a lot of the obstacles today came during Covid and after Covid, the gallery system changed there were less galleries a lot of artists and then as artist we had to start to learn how to use social media more like Instagram sub stack and other obstacles like a lot of artist get messages from people saying they want to buy their painting or they are having an open call for a show that isn’t really a show and Artist just submit their work and a small fee. It’s hard to tell if it’s a real open call or something else there’s a lot of online exhibits where they show your art online and sometimes that our fares on big K screen. All in all I think any artist or creative is definitely going to have obstacles and challenges during their life so it’s an ongoing thing so we have to just learn how to get around some of these obstacles and challenges and just keep on working no matter what. Just make art.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

My artwork delves into the historical impact of Renaissance painting, particularly where the window serves as a metaphorical bridge to the outside world through its use of perspective. In contrast, I have examined how the twentieth century placed a stronger emphasis on surface and frontal composition. This contemplation has led me to investigate what exists beyond these established notions, especially the dynamic relationship between the interior and exterior of a window. Within my paintings, the window acts as a passage, inviting the surrounding space into the studio and creating a unique blend of closeness and separation for the viewer.

My creative process starts with envisioning a scene from a distinct vantage point, followed by the application of diverse materials like acrylics, charcoal, and colored graphite. By layering washes of paint, I aim to replicate the erratic patterns of rain cascading down a window during a storm, interspersing motifs that suggest ephemeral moments. This interaction between the initial vision and the subsequent artistic gestures imbues the piece with a sense of life, as if a gentle breeze has stirred the surface.

Additionally, my work reflects themes of growth, decay, and nature. Many people only recognize the life cycle of a flower, tree, or plant during its growth not so much as the decline, but both growth and decay are integral parts of existence. I want people to experience the beauty of the perfect flower or tree but also the beauty of the decay .Water also plays a significant role in my art. I want my viewers to uncover various elements within the layers and depths of my work; many hidden aspects await those who take the time to truly look.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?

I grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where my passion for art ignited during my childhood. From a young age, I was always immersed in drawing, painting, and experimenting with various materials. By the time I reached seventh and eighth grade, my dedication to studying art intensified, leading me to major in art during high school. I was lucky to have a neighbor and close family friend who was a visual artist and an alumnus of the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He encouraged me to enroll in classes at the Art Students League in Manhattan. Additionally, I attended Saturday morning classes at the School of Visual Arts and later at Parsons School of Design during my high school years. The instructors there provided invaluable critiques of my work, guiding me through the challenges of drawing from life.

My mentor worked alongside the painter Al Held, which allowed me the opportunity to meet him and his sculptor wife, Sylvia Stone, as well as other notable artists in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After graduating high school, I spent some time at the School of Visual Arts before shifting my focus to art history and humanities courses at the City University of New York. My artistic journey was further enriched by frequent visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA PS1, and the numerous galleries throughout Soho, New York, all of which laid a strong foundation for my development as an artist.

Pricing:

• My art work ranging in Price from
• $500
• $6500.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kevinpinkertongallery.com
• Instagram: @kevinjppinkerton
• Facebook: Kevin Pinkerton Artist
• LinkedIn: Kevin John Pinkerton

Image Credits

All images by Kevin Pinkerton