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Paul Kirley

Paul Kirley


Paul Kirley was born in Massachusetts and moved to California to study at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Art was an integral part of Kirley’s life as a child, as he grew up in a family of artists and designers. The artist discovered both photography and a love of 50’s Abstract Expressionist paintings in his teens.

Kirley’s original artworks express connections between the representational landscapes and ephemeral dreamscape experiences. Links between the two worlds are created as a series of painted layers and textural gestures. The creative process of each piece presents opportunities to live fully immersed in the stories and places of our dreams. Kirley is an exhibiting member of the Arts Guild of Sonoma. His works have been featured on numerous TV shows and can be found in commercial and private collections worldwide.

All artworks by artist



Born in Massachusetts into a family of architects, designers, and artists, Paul Kirley began to draw and paint by age two. Early artistic influences included a family connection to landscapes, buildings, and a sense of place. Kirley discovered both photography and a love of abstract expressionist painting in his teens.

In the fall of 1987, he moved to California to attend the Art Center College of Design. During this period, he began to develop a collage style of work that merged his love of photography with a passion for painting. Blending paint and photographic compositions together on a single picture plane, Kirley integrated multiple media types, to create motion filled dreamscapes.

Each piece transports the viewer to a dynamic textural environment. The physicality of paint conveys human emotions that contrast with the clarity and formality of photographic elements. In recent years Kirley has returned to the singular media expression of acrylic paint on canvas. Paper sketches begin his process and graphite sketch lines often add to his painted compositions. The inspiration of the dream remains a central theme in his work.

Kirley is an exhibiting member of the Arts Guild of Sonoma and regularly contributes to the Venice Artwalk.
Born in Massachusetts into a family of architects, designers, and artists, Paul Kirley began to draw and paint by age two. Early artistic influences included a family connection to landscapes, buildings, and a sense of place. Kirley discovered both photography and a love of abstract expressionist painting in his teens.

In the fall of 1987, he moved to California to attend the Art Center College of Design. During this period, he began to develop a collage style of work that merged his love of photography with a passion for painting. Blending paint and photographic compositions together on a single picture plane, Kirley integrated multiple media types, to create motion filled dreamscapes.

Each piece transports the viewer to a dynamic textural environment. The physicality of paint conveys human emotions that contrast with the clarity and formality of photographic elements. In recent years Kirley has returned to the singular media expression of acrylic paint on canvas. Paper sketches begin his process and graphite sketch lines often add to his painted compositions. The inspiration of the dream remains a central theme in his work.

Kirley is an exhibiting member of the Arts Guild of Sonoma and regularly contributes to the Venice Artwalk.

EXHIBITIONS

2021-23   Artspace Warehouse, Ongoing exhibition, Los Angeles, CA

2020        Visual Field Automation- Group Show, March, Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA

2018        Informal Languages- Group show, October, Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA

UGallery.com Ongoing online gallery exhibition

2015        Abstract Enlightenment- Group show, October, Artspace Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA

2014        Cosmic Scatterings Of Abstraction- Group show, October     Artspace Warehouse Gallery, Los Angeles CA.

2013    John Denning Studio Gallery - Sonoma, CA

             Artspace Warehouse Gallery- Los Angeles, CA

             Arts Guild of Sonoma Gallery- Sonoma, CA

2012    Christofle Showroom- Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, CA

             Enoteca Della Santina- Sonoma, CA 

             Venice Art Walk- Venice CA

             Art Ark Gallery, San Jose, CA

             Art Space Warehouse Gallery- Los Angeles, CA

             Arts Guild of Sonoma Gallery- Sonoma, CA

             Perrell Fine Art Gallery- Los Angeles, CA

2011    Artists  Residency - Villa d’ Arte, Ventimiglia Italy, July 

             Arts Guild of Sonoma Gallery- Sonoma, CA

             Perrell Fine Art Gallery- Los Angeles, CA          

2010    Root Division- “H Sale”, group show- San Francisco

             Artist Xchange Gallery- San Francisco, CA

             Enoteca Della Santina - Sonoma, CA

             Arts Guild of Sonoma Gallery- Sonoma, CA

             Perrell Fine Art Gallery- Los Angeles, CA

             Venice Art Walk- Venice, CA

2009    Perrell Fine Art Gallery- Los Angeles, CA

2009    Donghia Showroom, Pacific Design Center, Los Angeles

             Venice Art Walk- Venice- CA

2008    Perrell Fine Art Gallery- Los Angeles, CA

             Art Expo New York- New York, NY

             Venice Art Walk- Venice, CA

2007    Perrell Fine Art Gallery- Los Angeles, CA

             M.J. Higgins Fine Art and Furnishings - Los Angeles, CA

             Venice Art Walk- Venice, CA

2006    Perrell Fine Art Gallery- Los Angeles, CA

             M.J. Higgins Fine Art and Furnishings- Los Angeles, CA

2005    Andrew Gray Showroom- Silverlake, CA

             Girari Gallery and Showroom - Beverly Hills, CA

2004    AZU- Ojai, CA

             Ken Dunipace Cancer Benefit- Hollywood , CA

2003    Our House Benefit- Beverly Hills, CA

             Our House Gallery Show -DCA Gallery - Venice, CA

             Cacao Art Gallery- West Los Angeles, CA

2002    Ken Dunipace Cancer Benefit- Hollywood , CA

             Andrew Gray Showroom- Hollywood, CA

2001    Cacao Art Gallery- West Los Angeles, CA

2000     B-U-I-L-T- Silverlake, CA

1999     Westweek Design Exhibition

             Pacific Design Center- West Hollywood, CA 

             Beverly Hills Hotel- Beverly Hills, CA

1998     Gallery of Functional Art- Santa Monica, CA

1993     Art Center College of Design- Pasadena, CA

1991     HBSA Furniture exhibit - New York, NY


EDUCATION

1991    Art Center College of Design- Pasadena, CA

1989    Summer Internship, JOOP! Fashion Hamburg, Germany



SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Ms. Katherine Bard- Bel Air, CA.

Mr. and Mrs. Harald Belker- Venice, CA

Ms. Zarina Bourque- Los Angeles, CA

Mr. and Mrs. P.Q. Chin- Honolulu, HI

Mr. Marek Djordevic’- Los Angeles, CA

Mr. and Mrs. Joe John Duran- Laguna Beach, CA

Mr. Keith Urban-Ms. Nicole Kidman- Los Angeles CA

Mr. Bret Elliot- Culver City, CA

Mr. Elan Gale- Los Angeles, CA

Mr. and Mrs. Alain Giraud- Los Angeles, CA

Mr. Artis Leon Ivey, Jr. “Coolio”- Los Angeles, CA

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Hill- Naples,CA

Mr. and Mrs. Knox Johnson- Hartland, VT

 Mr. Douglas Juhn - Los Angeles, CA

Dr. and Mrs. Eduard Kagan- New York, New York

Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Karten- Venice, CA

Mr. Jovo Majstorovic- Pacific Palisades, CA

Mr. Jay Phillip McGraw- Los Angeles CA

Mr. Goutam Mitra- Angeles, CA

Dr. and Mrs. Stephen O'Connor- Pasadena, CA

Ms. Kearie Peak- Hollywood- CA

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Pugh- Long Beach, CA

Mr. and Mrs. Walid Saba- Laguna Hills, CA

Mr. Noah Segan- Los Angeles, CA

Dr. and Mrs. Gregory Uehara- Austin, TX

Mr. Thomas Williams- Venice, CA

 


TV & FILM

Scandal, Season 5

For The People, ABC