Here Forever, Gone Tomorrow – An Abstract Painting Exhibition at Mercer Gallery Artist Reception

The Mercer Gallery starts out 2024 with a new look, as the gallery has received some much-needed cosmetic attention by replacing the trim, wall, and floor coverings. The updated space has a dark gray contemporary pallet, allowing the artwork to jump off the walls. Artist Kevin Kelly has been tasked with being the first person to enter the new space with his exhibition “Here Forever, Gone Tomorrow.” This abstract painting exhibition consists of large, brightly colored, mesmerizing creations full of movement, energy, and unique mark-making. The exhibition will be in the gallery from January 29th to February 16th. You are encouraged to meet with the artist at a closing reception on February 16th from 6 pm to 7:30 pm, with light refreshments provided. Kelly, a seasoned educator, will give an artist’s workshop on the morning of February 16th from 9:30 am to 12, followed by a 1pm Gallery talk. You can learn some of the fundamentals of image-making from this expert. The artist’s workshop is in Joyce, room 1413; all events are free and public.

Kevin Kelly is an artist and educator from the middle of America. He earned his Bachelor of Art Education in 2001 and his MFA in painting from Wichita State University in 2008. His artwork is held in many private collections across the United States. It has been recognized through the Golden Artist Residency, the Mother’s Milk Residency, the Harvester Arts Community Fellowship program, and the Oklahoma Visual Arts Commission. Kelly has been featured in group and solo exhibits in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New York for 15 years. His work has been featured in several publications, including New American Paintings, Studio Visit magazine, and the book Wichita Artists in Their Studios.

Come see this inspiring exhibition as well as the Mercer Gallery updates during regular gallery hours Monday through Wednesday, from 9 am to 4 pm, Thursdays from 9 am to 10 pm, and Fridays from 9 am to 4 pm. For more information, please get in touch with Gallery Director Michael Knutson at [email protected].

Artist Statement

The story of painting was partially about uncovering creative possibilities, freezing an artistic gesture, and finding an individual identity. These artworks awkwardly occupy that space between a romanticized, painterly experience of the world and the unromantic surroundings of the Midwest, where I grew up. That landscape is characterized by utility, heavy-handed social and political messaging, and a restrained dialect. But both worlds are colored by nostalgia, memory, and moments of joy. I am looking through the cracks of painting, looking for the margins as I dissect its processes. By taking painted gestures and my surroundings out of their everyday contexts, I hope to give both a fighting chance.