CONTACT INFO:
Address: PO Box 95
East Aurora, New York 14052
Phone: 716-655-4271
E-mail: thomaskegler@thomaskegler.com
Website: www.thomaskegler.com
Artists Statement
Poetry of Place
Through my work, I strive to bring an awareness and respect for God's creations and their temporal qualities. They provide an infinite supply of beauty and inspiration. I paint traditionally - mirroring a time when academic training and processes were embraced and nurtured. This approach has given me the skills and knowledge to express myself through hand, head and heart.
I wanted to be a painter from the time I could first hold a brush. Many of my earliest memories are of exploring at the kitchen table with my siblings using paper, cardboard, crayons, scissors and glue. Today, using oil paints, my visions and emotions are given a voice through the infinite variations of color notes. Experiences are what I am called to paint...the materials, technique and subject are the vehicle.
Painting is a humbling experience...often the more you learn and grow, the more challenging it becomes. The many hours and days spent interacting with my subjects have opened my eyes to subtleties such as intricate color and value shifts, and beauty in the overlooked. Something new is revealed each time I visit the canvas. I paint daily - it is as necessary to my life as breathing.
Nature itself has been the most humbling instructor. I am awestruck at the visual inspirations that emerge around me in the outdoors. The sounds, smells, and tactile qualities that I experience while in field cannot help but be infused in the work. I strive to impart a universal quality that makes the viewer feel he has been there and can relate to the image.
Whether in the field or the studio, painting is integral to my life...a product of my faith and experiences.
"With Humility comes Wisdom" - Proverbs 11:2
Biography
Renowned artist, Thomas Kegler, is a self-taught painter, producer, and certified teacher residing in Western New York. He is recognized as an Associate Living Master by the prestigious Art Renewal Center, Master Roycroft Artisan, member of the NYC Salmagundi Club, Painting Instructor for the Grand Central Academy in New York City, and Senior Fellow with the Hudson River Fellowship. Kegler's traditional oil paintings of landscapes, still life, and figures draw from the Masters' approach to the canvas. Revisiting the processes and techniques of the "Old Masters" in light of classical and contemporary subjects guides his expression of life's subtleties.
Kegler's work has been shown nationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions at many distinguished galleries. His paintings reside in several prominent collections throughout the United States. His work and processes have been featured in notable magazines and publications including American Arts Quarterly.
Kegler is committed to the consistent growth and development of his skills and to the promotion of art education with an emphasis on classical techniques. He has self-produced an instructional documentary video focused on traditional plein air painting approaches. Kegler regards the act of painting as an opportunity to celebrate the beauty of creation - portraying temporal experiences as poetic statements.
PRESS
- Plein Air Magazine: Featured an article "Painting Directly from Nature" - Dec/Jan 2015
- Drawing Magazine: Featured on the cover and an 8 page article "Understanding the Anatomy of the Landscape" - Winter 2013
- American Art Collector Magazine: Featured in Article "Nature Morte: Collecting Still Life" - January 2013
- American Painting Video Magazine: Featured "Painting En Plein Air: Resolving the Landscape with Thomas Kegler" video review - Fall 2012
- Plein Air Magazine: Featured in article "The Hudson River Fellowship: Landscape Painting in the 19th Century Tradition" - Fall 2011
- American Art Collector Magazine: Feature Article "Revealing the Natural World" - June 2011
- American Art Collector Magazine: Feature Article "Pursuit of Beauty" - November 2010
- American Painting Video Magazine Feature Interview - Fall 2010
Galleries
Thomas' work is currently represented by these fine Galleries.
- John Pence Gallery- San Francisco, CA
- Trees Place - Orleans, MA
- Cavalier Galleries - Greenwich, CT
- SR Brennen Galleries - Palm Desert, CA
- Lacuna Galleries, Santa Fe, NM
- Edgartwon Art Gallery - Martha's Vineyard, MA
- Meibohm Fine Arts - East Aurora, NY
- Beacon Fine Art Gallery - Red Bank, NJ
- Oxford Gallery - Rochester, NY
VITAE
AFFILIATIONS
- Associate Living Master - Art Renewal Center
- Master Roycroft Artisan - East Aurora, New York
- Member of the Salmagundi Club, New York City
- Painting Instructor for the Grand Central Academy in New York City
- Senior Fellow, Hudson River Fellowship
- Member of the Buffalo Art Club, Buffalo, New York
- Member of the Oil Painters of America
EXHIBITIONS/EVENTS/HONORS
2015
- American Masters Exhibition & Sale 2015
Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY - International Art Renewal Center Salon Exhibition
MEAM in Barcelona Spain & Salmagundi Club in NYC - Annual Members Exhibit & Sale - Philip Isenberg Memorial Award
Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY - Solo Exhibition: "Interludes of Light"
Meibohm Fine Art, East Aurora, NY - Group Exhibition: "Still Life & Florals"
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA - "MANmade Art: A Cross-Generational Survey"
Kenan Center, Lockport, NY - Group Exhibition: "The Condition of Music"
Oxford Gallery: Rochester, NY - "Landscapes Across America"
Trees Place Gallery, Orleans, MA - Group Landscape Exhibition
Grand Central Atelier & Eleventh Street Arts New York, NY - Art Renewal Center Salon 2015 Finalist
Honorable Mention in Landscape
2014
- American Masters Exhibition & Sale 2014
Salmagundi Club, New York City, NY - Artist Residency Recipient
La Napoule Art Foundation & Grand Central Atelier Chateau de La Napoule, France - Group Exhibition: "A Moveable Feast"
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA - Group Exhibition: Trout Unlimited
Burchfield Penny Art Center Buffalo, NY - Art Renewal Center Salon 2014 Finalist
- Group Exhibition: "Proverbs and Commonplace"
Oxford Gallery: Rochester, NY - Instructor/ Senior Fellow - Grand Central Atelier/Hudson River Fellowship with Jacob Collins
- Taught Summer Intensive Landscape - Workshop: Jackson, NH - Senior Fellow - group presentations
2013
- PleinAir Salon
Best Nocturne - Designated as Associate Living Master through the Art Renewal Center
- Art Renewal Center Salon 2013 Finalist
Honorable Mention in Landscape
Honorable Mention in Still Life - Still Life Group Show
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA - Salon International 2013 Juried Exhibition
Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art
San Antonio, Texas - Oil Painters of America: Juried Salon 2013
- Instructor/ Senior Fellow - Grand Central Atelier/Hudson River Fellowship with Jacob Collins
- Taught Summer Intensive Landscape Workshop: Jackson, NH
- Senior Fellow - group presentations
2012
- Oil Painters of America: National Online Showcase -
Third Place Winner - Fall - Still Life Group Show
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA - Gallery Artists Group Show
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA - Art Renewal Center Salon 2012 Finalist
- Group Exhibition: "Well Crafted"
Burchieled Penny Art Center
Buffalo, NY - Salon International 2012 Juried Exhibition
Honorable Mention
Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art
San Antonio, Texas - Group Exhibition: Mill Road Scenic Overlook
Meibohm Fine Art Gallery: East Aurora, NY - Instructor/ Senior Fellow - Grand Central Atelier/Hudson River Fellowship with Jacob Collins
- Taught Summer Intensive Landscape Workshop: Jackson, NH
- Senior Fellow - group presentations
2011
- Solo Show - John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
- "Magestic Landscapes" Group Show
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA - "Trompe L'oeil" Group Show
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA - "Recent Arrivals" Show
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA - Two Person Show - Oxford Gallery: Rochester, New York
- "Traditions" Group Exhibition
Oxford Gallery: Rochester, New York - "Size Matters" Show
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA - Instructor/ Senior Fellow - Grand Central Atelier/Hudson River Fellowship with Jacob Collins
- Taught Summer Intensive Landscape Workshop: Catskill Mountains Hunter, NY
- Senior Fellow - group presentations
2010
- Solo exhibition of recent paintings
Meibohm Fine Art Gallery: East Aurora, NY - Oil Painters of America Juried National Show
Legacy Gallery: Scottsdale, Arizona - Hudson River Fellowship with Jacob Collins - Senior Fellow in Summer Intensive Workshop:
The Institute for Classical Architecture and Classical America: Hunter, NY - Landscape Group Show
Cavalier Galleries: Greenwich, Connecticut - Juried Group Exhibition
Art Dialogue Gallery: Buffalo, NY - Juried "Thumb Box" Group Exhibition
Buffalo Society of Artists: Tonawanda, NY - "Let There be Light" Group Exhibition
Oxford Gallery: Rochester, NY - Solo exhibition of recent paintings
Meibohm Fine Art Gallery - East Aurora, NY
2009
- Small Works Group Show
Cavalier Galleries, Greenwich, CT - Boston International Art Show
Represented by Arcadia Gallery, New York, NY - Hudson River Revival: Contemporary Landscape Painting Group Show
Springville Museum of Art - Utah - Juried National Exhibition:
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Oil Painters of America - Juried Regional Exhibition:
Corse Gallery & Atelier Jacksonville, Florida
Oil Painters of America - Hudson River Fellowship with Jacob Collins - Senior Fellow in Summer Intensive Workshop:
The Institute for Classical Architecture and Classical America: Hunter, NY - Three Person Exhibition
Art Dialogue Gallery: Buffalo, New York - "Night" Group Exhibition
Oxford Gallery: Rochester, New York
2008
- Juried National Exhibition
Hudson Valley Art Association - Old Lyme, Connecticut
Recipient of the Dumond Memorial Award - Juried National Exhibition
Missoula, Montana
Oil Painters of America - Albright Knox Art Gallery Collector's Gallery
- Hudson River Fellowship with Jacob Collins - Senior Fellow in Summer Intensive Workshop:
The Institute for Classical Architecture and Classical America: Hunter, NY - Two person exhibition of recent paintings
Kenan Center - Lockport, New York - Juried members group exhibition
Western New York Artist's Group
Buffalo, New York - Invited Group exhibition
Western New York Artist's Group
Buffalo, New York - "Awakenings" group exhibition
Oxford Gallery
Rochester, New York - "Collectors Gallery" joint exhibition
Albright Knox Art Gallery
Buffalo, New York
2006-7
- "Artists Among Us" group exhibition
Burchfield Penny Art Center
Buffalo, New York - "Collectors Gallery" group exhibition
Albright Knox Art Gallery
Buffalo, New York - Cover Art for Ani Difranco's Compilation CD "Canon"
- Solo exhibition of recent paintings
Meibohm Fine Art Gallery
East Aurora, New York
