August Exhibit: Jeremiah Ketner
It's been five years (!) since we last hosted Jeremiah Ketner and we're excited to share over 20 new works by this talented artist who now splits his time between Illinois and Tokyo.
Join us this Saturday, August 17, for the opening reception and meet Jeremiah while grooving to a live set by DJ Sean Doe!
Everything is Fine
New Works by Jeremiah Ketner
August 17-September 15, 2024
Opening Reception
Saturday, August 17, 6-8pm
Music by DJ Sean Doe
Free / All Ages / BYOB
Works will be available to purchase first by members of our Gallery Previews Email List. Sign up at http://previews.rotofugi.com
About the Artist
Jeremiah Ketner's paintings are instantly recognizable amongst his contemporaries in the pop surrealism movement. His early work, characterized by mischievous sprites and whimsical patterns, has evolved into lush, richly colored environments inhabited by a cast of pensive, dreamy young women. Each character presents a unique brand of beauty, created entirely within Jeremiah's imagination and painted completely from memory.
The sprites (which grace the walls of Nordstrom department stores nationwide) still appear as inspiration for custom wooden and vinyl toys. Bringing a three-dimensional surface to life is one of Jeremiah's favorite challenges; the intricate, colorful one-of-a-kind creatures are immensely popular amongst his collectors.
Beyond the designer toy phenomenon, other aspects of Japanese culture — the fabrics and motifs, the meticulous taming of and tending to nature — provide an ever-flowing spring of insight, and Jeremiah travels there as often as possible. "I love the gardens," he says. "They do an amazing job of taking a small space and making it feel like a large environment."
During one trip to Tokyo he observed, "Design in Japan is small and round," which became his mantra of sorts, an enigmatic interpretation of his overall aesthetic. "It loosely describes work from long ago, but I guess it's more of a pen name," says Jeremiah, whose Internet-savvy fans know to look for his "smallandround" persona for frequent updates and photographs of new art.
Jeremiah's pop culture-inspired style and unconventional creations have a traditional foundation. With his family's encouragement, he began formal art studies at the age of 12. He holds a BFA from Columbus College of Art and Design and an MFA from Southern Illinois University. Jeremiah's paintings and toys have been featured in solo and group exhibitions galleries across North America and internationally.
Artist Bio written by Cherise LaPine