Kevin Kearns' landscapes come from a place where memory, reality and imagination are combined. They are atmospheric, sensual and continue to evolve over time, allowing the viewer a glimpse into his world. And we are invited to dream, fly over, walk around, live in and contemplate that world – seductive, enticing and coming from very specific memories of places that have fascinated Kearns, whether it be the Hudson Valley where his current studio is located or places like the New England seacoast, Iceland and Europe.
The resulting landscape images are full of light, space, color, softly undulating hills that disappear and reappear and broad expansive skies, and yet little sense of human presence or architecture. They combine a strong sense of the abstract with the organic, essentially allowing nature to be nature. The oil paint is allowed to drip, build up, or be scraped back, resulting in the totality of the final image to evoke a variety of qualities that tap into Kearns' very personal responses to the subject matter.
Born in Boston and raised on the New Hampshire seacoast, Kearns studied at the Art Institute of Boston and went on to a successful career as an illustrator, Art Director, Designer and Creative Director. His work received numerous awards and accolades, including multiple Cannes Lions, One Show awards. New York Art Director awards, London International Awards an Emmy nomination, and was published in prestigious award show annuals and books, including Communication Arts, the British Art Directors Annual and Graphis Poster.
Throughout his career, Kearns was obsessed with the quality and visceral response that working by hand could achieve. Having immersed himself in 2D film and print for so long, his vast experiences and curiosity with composition, structure and color was already ingrained, making it a smooth transition into the world of fine art. So he started recording his observations of landscape, a journey that he began at age 14. Enhanced by the many tools acquired throughout his career, Kearns continues to push the boundaries of his vibrant landscape images that evoke an emotive quality, making his work deeply contemplative, personal and accessible.
Kearns' work is housed in many private and corporate collections throughout North America, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He now lives, teaches and works in the Hudson Valley region of New York.
represented by
Hubert Gallery 16 East 79th Street, Ste 24 New York, NY
Stricoff Gallery, 564 W. 25th St, New York, NY
Julie Nester Gallery , Park City, Utah
Claire Carino Contemporary, Boston Ma.
Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO
The Principle Gallery, Charleston, SC
Solo Exhibitions
2017- Scenic Abstraction, Stricoff Gallery, 564 W. 25th Street New York, NY
2015- Recent Landscapes, Stricoff Gallery, 564 W. 25th Street New York, NY
2013- Streaks of Light, Stricoff Gallery, 564 W. 25th Street New York, NY
2008 - Stricoff Gallery, 564 W. 25th Street New York, NY
2003- Stricoff Gallery, 564 W. 25th Street New York, NY
2002 - First Street Gallery, 526 W. 26th Street New York, NY
Group Exhibitions
2022 Madison Avenue Gallery Art Walk Group Show, Hubert Gallery NYC
2022 Summer Group Show, Hubert Galley NYC
2021 Group Show Principle Gallery Charleston SC
2021, group show Julie Nester Gallery, Park City, Utah
2020- group show, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2019- 2 person Exhibition, Claire Carino Contemporary, Boston Ma.
2019- Summer Group Exhibition, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2018- Summer Group Exhibition, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2018- 2 Person Exhibition, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2018 - "Fragile" 2 person show, West Branch Gallery Stowe VT
2016- Sensing Place. Chris Davison Gallery Newburgh NY Artists: Kevin Kearns, Jill Levine, Mariella Bisson, Fran O'Neill, H. Spencer Young, Julie Lindell.
2016- Summer Group Exhibition, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2015- Summer Group Exhibition, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2014- Fall Exhibition, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2013- Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2013- Summer Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, East Hampton NY
2013- Fall and Spring exhibits: Garrison Art Center, Benefit Auction, Garrison NY
2012- Winter Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2012- Fall and Spring exhibits: Garrison Art Center, Benefit Auction, Garrison NY
2012- Surfaces II, 2 Person Show Kevin Kearns / David Kessler, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2011- Surfaces, 2 Person Show Kevin Kearns / David Kessler, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2011- The Works Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
2011- Spring Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2011- Fall and Spring exhibits: Garrison Art Center, Benefit Auction, Garrison NY
2010- Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2010- The Works Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
2010- Group Exhibit, Mark Gallery, Englewood NJ
2010- Fall and Spring exhibits: Garrison Art Center, Benefit Auction, Garrison NY
2010- Chicago Art fair
2009- 2-person Exhibit, Garrison Art Center. Garrison NY
2009- The Works Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
2009- Fall and Spring exhibits: Garrison Art Center, Benefit Auction, Garrison NY
2009- Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2008- LA Art Fair
2008- Fall and Spring exhibits: Garrison Art Center, Benefit Auction, Garrison NY
2007- Spring Exhibition, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2007- Toronto Art Fair
2006- Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2006- The Works Gallery, Wellfleet, MA
2005- Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2005- Sotheby's -Take home a nude, New York Academy of Art
2004- Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2003- Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
2002- Group Show, Stricoff Gallery, NYC
Teaching
2015-Private Landscape workshops, Newburgh NY
2012- Fashion Institute of Technology, Guest Lecturer
2008-Landscape Workshops, Garrison Art Center, Garrison NY
t.917.842.3021 / Instagram / Facebook / Tumblr / keakevin@gmail.com