Here and There: Poetic Plein-Air
Artist Ryan Kerr
Please RSVP for the (free) Opening Reception of “Here and There” by completing the registration process (free). The artwork is for sale and prints are available of select works.
“Connecting with natural landscapes is an essential goal in my practice, which begins with the contemplation of my immediate surroundings. Primarily, I use the method of perceptual easel painting to capture internal and external sensory experiences.. The skeletal quality of a winter landscape or the heavy heat of Summer shapes the mood of the paintings and affects the practical challenges of painting onsite. Navigating these limits is precisely what leads to unique and specific marks with my painting tools. I do not aim to just describe what I see, but record an interaction that takes place over time. As perception changes during painting, I attempt to find a connection with my subject. The philosopher Martin Buber likens this process to having a conversation with someone where constant awareness is required to respond. By listening to the environment and bringing enough of myself to the moment, a transformation takes place on the surface of the painting. Through this process, I develop a deeper, more empathetic connection with my surroundings.”
The show is comprised of over 20 original works in oil ranging in size from 9″ x 7″ to 60″ x 42″. The artwork is for sale, with 85% of each sale going directly to the artist. En-plein-air is a French expression meaning “in the open air”, and refers to the act of painting outdoors with the artist’s subject in full view. Plein-air artists capture the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, color and movement into their work.
Ryan is an artist and educator, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2019. During this time, he was an art editorial writer and received a scholarship for his figure drawings at Manifest Drawing Center. He has taught art as a public high school teacher in Cincinnati, and has worked professionally as a screen printer, an art handler, and an art restorer in Dallas, Texas. He attended the Mount Gretna School of Art in 2018 and again in 2023 and has had his artwork shown in The Bowery Gallery and Susan Eley Fine Art in New York City. In 2022 he thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail. He now lives in Cincinnati, Ohio recently graduating from Miami University with a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting.
Art Show presented by Baker Hunt with generous support from The RC Durr Foundation.
The gallery will have open hours between March 9th and April 3rd. Please RSVP for Gallery Visits HERE
Enjoy a free lecture by Ryan, discussing the inspiration and thought process behind his work, March 19th. More information can be found HERE.