Kelly Reemtsen delights in the every day imagery that surrounds her. Her paintings, while decidingly contemporary in style, bring us back to eras past. Her home is infused with these model objects- furniture, flat ware, dresses and vespas. These objects that comprise her vast repertoire of imagery are derived from Kelly’s second most favored hobby, collecting. Said to be a “self-described archivist and collector of American design and lifestyle” Kelly’s collection ranges from the 50’s, 60’s to 70’s functional objects and décor.

The artistic inspiration that has helped to fuel her densely painted surfaces is of equal interest to the subject matter itself. Her surfaces are luscious and painterly indicative of her admiration toward fellow California artist, Wayne Thiebaud. Like Thiebaud, Kelly is interested in the negative space within her paintings. She laughs in admitting that she often uses an entire tube of white paint to create a single work. Her use of white space serves to isolate the objects she renders, as if to revere these past art forms she so adores.

Yet Kelly’s interest spans beyond the object, evidenced by her figurative works. She credits Bay Area figurative artists David Park, Joan Brown, and Robert Bechtle for fueling her interest in this form of expression. Whether figurative or object based, Kelly’s work continually reflects her personal taste and aesthetic sensibility infused with a fascination for mid-century lifestyle and design.

Exhibitions:

2007 - Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA; “Fresh” Group Show, David Klien Gallery, Birmingham, MI; Art Chicago, Chicago IL; ArtLA, Santa Monica, CA. 2006 - Scope Art Fair Miami, Miami FL; “Four Printmakers”, Group Show, Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, Haverford College, Haverford, PA; “Process & Palette”, Solo Show, de Soto, Los Angeles, CA; “Object Lessons”, Two Person Show, University Art Gallery, CSUDH, Carson, CA; “Best in Show”, Gallery Artist, de Soto, Los Angeles, CA; Scope Art Fair, New York, NY; ArtLA Art Fair, Santa Monica, CA. 2005 - Santa Fe, Santa Fe International Art Fair, Santa Fe, NM; “Good Living”, Solo Show, de Soto, Los Angeles, CA; “All Through the House”, Solo Show, Metro Gallery Pasadena, CA; ArtLA Art Fair, Santa Monica, CA; “Time Line”, Solo Show, Dezart ONE Gallery, Palms Springs, CA. 2004 - “Gallery Artist”, Group Show Dezart ONE Gallery, Palm Springs, CA; “Chromatic Aberrations”, Group Show, ANDLAB, Los Angeles, CA; “Freestyle” PDC Project Space, Group Show West Hollywood, CA; “Body Candy”, Group Show I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; “Paint : Print”, Group Show, I-5 Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. 2003 - “Lifestyle”, Solo Show, Gallery 825, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA; “Three Decades of Design”, Solo Show, Risk Art Press, West Hollywood, CA. 2002 - “Dress”, Solo Show, Metro Gallery, Pasadena, CA; “Prêt ‘a Porter”, Group show, The Advocate Gallery, Hollywood, CA; SCI-ARC Live art auction, SCI-ARC, Los Angeles, CA. 2000 - Group Show, Boritzer, Gray, Hammano, Santa Monica, CA. 1999 - "Recent Works", University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA. 1998 - Gen Art Holiday Event, Simon Shade Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; “Fruit Crate Series", Group Show, Sequerios Koll Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; "Appetite for Art", Group Show, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA; "Humane Expressions", ASPCA Annual Benefit Art Auction, Los Angeles, CA. 1997 - "Emphasis...Color” Group Show, Paragone Gallery, West Hollywood, CA; "Humane Expressions", ASPCA Annual Benefit Art Auction, Los Angeles, CA. 1996 - Group Show and Auction, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA; "Out of the Kitchen", Group Show, Paragone Gallery, West Hollywood, CA.

Education:

1985-88 Central Michigan University, Fine Art Program, Painting; 1988-90 California State University, Long Beach, Fine Art, Painting; 1992-1995 Private Study under Painter Michael Tracy, Pasadena; 1995 Otis Parsons, Painting.