Previous Art: Kellie Talbot Opening Thursday, November 13, 2014 6-9pm
Kellie Talbot Solo Show – November 13 – December 7, 2014
Kellie Talbot’s work revolves around the landscape of American artifacts, craftsmanship and history. Signs and typography, architecture, industry, cemeteries and other emblems of society are the inspiration for her oil paintings. The rust and decay in the work aren’t negatives. They are both an elegy and a hope.
“Kellie Talbot’s paintings are instantly recognizable for their bold, almost exuberant use of color. The dramatic juxtapositions of sunlight and shadow and the startlingly abrupt compositions are distinctive hallmarks of Talbot’s work. One-majestic signage, rusting machinery, and forlorn cemeteries are reoccurring themes. Her skill with oil paint is obvious: brightly-colored enamels peeling away from cold gray steel, the fragility of broken neon tubing or missing, rust emanating from a corroded façade – all are impeccably rendered. Though joyously colored, there is an inherent melancholy that underscores many of these works. Her paintings evoke not only time and memory, but also the poignant beauty that often lies before our eyes. For beauty can often be found in the most unlikely places, and Talbot has an exceptional gift for recognizing them.
Less obvious is the undercurrent of metaphor inherent in her work. Though ostensibly renderings of a vanishing American landscape, there is something more going on: these are not simply paintings of things, but echoes of lives once lived, of voices once heard and now stilled. They border upon portraiture. They are likenesses not only of architectural ruins, but odes to the nameless artisans and craftsmen who built them. One can almost sense the excitement that must have accompanied the building these structures, now left to weather and rust in out-of-the-way places. The welder who once joined the cold steel, the sign makers, the painters – the presence of their ghosts is palpable.”
– Michael J. Deas
BIO
Kellie Talbot is a Seattle painter with long roots in the city as her family emigrated here from Italy in 1906. Though she was born in Hawaii and lived on both coasts growing up, Seattle has been home base since 1990.
Her first jobs, in a print shop and as a sign painter, developed her love of typography and design. Kellie has worked extensively as an illustrator and designer for the snowboard industry in addition to being the Art Director for Signal Snowboards since its inception in 2003.
Kellie Talbot lives in the Ballard neighborhood with her husband, a cat and a duck.
Currently she is represented by Bherd Studios in Seattle and SMASH Modern Art in Vancouver, BC.
View more work:
SHOWS
Bherd Studios / Greenwood, Seattle / November 14th – December 2014
Vermillion / Seattle, Washington / Solo show / November 13th – December 6th, 2014
Columbia Winery / Woodinville, Washington / HERE (Again): Talbot & Gua / Oct – Jan 2014/15
Bherd Studios / Greenwood, Seattle / HERE: Talbot & Gua / March, April 2014
Axis Gallery / Pioneer Square, Seattle / Group Show: Ex Libris / March 2014
Bherd Studios / Greenwood, Seattle / Introductions Group Show / October 2013
Piranha Shop / Seattle /Boxes of Death —Traveling Group Show / June – August 2013
Smash Modern Art Vancouver, BC / American Landscapes ( solo show) / February 1 – March 2, 2013
Virginia Inn / Belltown, Seattle / Solo Show / November, December 2012
Bherd Studios / Greenwood, Seattle / ‘By The Yard’ Group Show / September 2012
CORE Gallery / Seattle, WA / solo exhibition, Character of New Orleans / July 2012
Smash Modern Art / Vancouver, BC / (r)evolution Group Show / May, June 2012
Bherd Studios / Greenwood, Seattle / Vignettes Group Show / May 2012
Gainsbourg / Greenwood, Seattle / solo exhibition / October 14-November 10, 2011
Other Coast Cafe / Ballard, Seattle / solo exhibition / October 2011
Bherd Studios / Greenwood, Seattle / (Sub)Urban Group Show / May 2011
Virginia Inn / Belltown, Seattle / Solo Show / May, June 2011
Bherd Studios / Greenwood, Seattle, WA / Take 5 Group Show / November, December 2010
Elysian Brewery/ Tangletown, Seattle, WA / solo exhibition / oil paintings / October, November 2010
Elysian Brewery / Capitol Hill, Seattle, WA / solo exhibition / oil paintings / August, September 2010
Elysian Brewery / Qwest Field, Seattle, WA / solo exhibition / oil paintings / June, July 2010
La Familia Gallery / Seattle, WA / STARS & TYPE[S] solo show / oil paintings / May 2010
Bherd Studios / Greenwood, Seattle, WA / Sign of The Times group show / May 2010
Neptune Coffee / Greenwood, Seattle, WA / solo exhibition / oil paintings / November, December 2009
Sand Point Grill / Sandpoint, Seattle, WA / solo exhibition / oil paintings / October, November 2009
Bherd Gallery / Greenwood, Seattle, WA / Soapbox / group show / oil paintings / September 2009
Conor Byrne Pub / Seattle, WA / solo exhibition / oil paintings / September 2009
CVG Gallery / Bremerton, WA / annual juried state competition / 2nd place 2D art / February 2009
ISH Vintage / Bremerton, WA / solo exhibition / oil paintings / February 2009
Gimmee Baby Robots / Portland, Chicago, Seattle, LA / traveling auction / oil paintings / 2008 – present
Vermillion / Seattle, WA / Artreach group show / oil paintings / December 2008
Ace Studios / Seattle, WA / group show / oil paintings / September 2008
Gallery 63Eleven / Seattle, WA / Vegas solo show / oil paintings / July, August 2008
Office PDX / Portland, OR / Vegas solo exhibition / oil paintings / May 2008
Hideout / Seattle, WA / group collection / oil paintings / February 2008-present
Vermillion / Seattle, WA / group show / oil paintings / January 2008
Collins Pub / Seattle, WA / Vegas solo exhibition / oil paintings / September, October 2007
Conor Byrne Pub / Seattle, WA / Vegas solo show / oil paintings / June 2007
Gallery 63Eleven / Seattle, WA / group show / oil paintings / January 2007
All City Coffee / Seattle, WA / solo exhibition / oil paintings / December 2006
Gallery 63Eleven / Seattle, WA / A Song For Occupations solo exhibition / oil paintings / June 2006
Gallery 63Eleven / Seattle, WA / Of New Things solo exhibition / oil paintings / March, April 2005
Aftermath / Seattle, WA / Cemeteries solo exhibition / oil paintings / June 2004
Artcore Studios / Georgetown, Seattle, WA / Industry solo exhibition / oil paintings / February 2004
Category: Art