Jeff Kellar

Biography

Jeff Kellar (b. 1949)creates pristine minimalist paintings, drawings and sculptures that play with illusion, ambiguity, and space. His sophisticated surfaces are achieved through the application of many layers of acrylic resin and clay pigment onto paper, aluminum panels, and wood blocks. Each layer is methodically sanded and buffed leaving the surface smooth and modulated. Although rendered with extreme precision, slight irregularities in the surfaces reveal the presence of the artist’s hand. In Wall Drawings, the artist uses line and shape to create an impression of place or a moment.

Kellar’s work can be found in the collections of the Farnsworth Museum of Art in Rockland, ME, the Maine Department of Conservation, the Microsoft Collection in Seattle, the Museum of American Art in Philadelphia, and the Portland Museum of Art in Portland, ME, among many others. He was the recipient of the Adolf and Ester Gottlieb Foundation Grant in 2014. Jeff Kellar lives and works in Maine

I often stare at a blank wall and imagine what to draw on it. Like flat white movie screen expanded by the image projected. I like to see just how few clues are needed to create the illusion of depth on a flat surface. This is a type of minimalism that allows room for the acts of perception and interpretation to become conscious rather than automatic

– Jeff Kellar

Education
1971
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; B.A. English / Film Making

1971
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA

1971-73
Fleisher Memorial Art Institute, Philadelphia, PA

Solo Exhibitions
2023
Locate, William Campbell Contemporary, Fort Worth, TX

2022
Stacked, Cornered and Glimpsed, Richard Levy Gallery, ARTSY.net
Sculptures and Paintings, Corey Daniels Gallery, Wells, ME

2021
Paintings, Perimeter Gallery, Belfast, ME

2020
New Work: Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

2017
Jeff Kellar: Gravity + Light, William Campbell Contemporary Art, Fort Worth, TX

2016
Jeff Kellar: Walls, Blocks and Glimpses, ICON Contemporary Art, Brunswick, ME

2015
Jeff Kellar: Painting & Sculpture, William Campbell Contemporary Art, Fort Worth, TX

2014
Jeff Kellar, Blocks, Icon Contemporary Art (2 person), Brunswick, ME

2012
Jeff Kellar, Prospect, Icon Contemporary Art, Brunswick, ME

2011
Serious Play, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM (two person exhibition)

2010
Jeff Kellar, New Work, Icon Contemporary Art, Brunswick, ME

2008
The Leap Show, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

Jeff Kellar,
Icon Contemporary Art, Brunswick, ME

2007
George Marshall Store Gallery, York, ME

2006
Intersection, ICON Contemporary Art, Brunswick, ME

2004
Drawing Space, Icon Contemporary Art; Brunswick, ME

2003
Color Space, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

2002
Barrier/Space, Gallery Joe, Philadelphia, PA

Icon Contemporary Art, Brunswick, ME

1999
Corridors and Compartments, Gallery Joe, Philadelphia, PA

1998
Between The Muse, Rockland, ME

1997
Gallery Joe; Philadelphia, PA

June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME

1996
Dean Velentgas Gallery, Portland, ME

1995
Perspectives: A Sense of Place, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME
Function to Form, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME

1994
Retrospective, University of Maine/ Farmington Art Gallery, Farmington, ME

1991
Gallery Camino Real, Boca Raton, FL

1990

Barridoff Galleries, Portland, ME
1989 Barridoff Galleries, Portland, ME

Group Exhibitions
2024
four by four, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

2023
Confluence of Lines, Galerie Abstract Project, Paris, France

2022
Walk the Line, Center for Maine Contemprary Art, Rockland ME
Acanthis, William Campbell Gallery, Ft. Worth, TX

 2020
Painting on the Porch #4; Sue Ravitz 57th St Arts, New York, NY
Grey|Gray (Matter): a global and postal social experiment, Divisible Projects, Front Street, Dayton, OH
Gems, William Campbell Contemporary Art, Fort Worth, TX

2019
to the moon and back, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
Be Absolutely Concrete!, hase29, Osnabruck, Germany
Color Forms, curated by Michael Klein, Stanfordville, NY
(2 person with Bernd Haussmann), Icon Contemporary Art, Brunswick, ME

2017
New Work by JT Gibson, Jung Hur & Jeff Kellar, Corey Daniels Gallery, Wells, ME

2016
3 Galleries. 8 Walls., Corey Daniels Gallery, Wells, ME

2015
Fall Exhibition 2015, Corey Daniels Gallery, Wells, ME
Summer Gathering 2, ICON Contemporary Art, Brunswick, ME

2014
Color Rhythms, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
Install 4, 3 person show, Corey Daniels Gallery, Wells, ME

2013
Color+Form+Function, Collector’s Contemporary Gallery, Singapore

2012
Sampler: USM Teaching Collection, University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME

2011
20 in 2011, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM
Jeff Kellar + James Marshall + Brian Moore, William Campbell Contemporary Art, Forth Worth, TX

2010
Dots, June Fitzpatrick Gallery, Portland, ME

2009
Planes of Abstraction, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME

2008
The Sketchbook Show, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME
New Acquisitions, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME
CMCA Biennial, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME
The Eclectic Eye of Rose Marie Frick, Aucocisco Gallery, Portland, ME
Farnsworth Museum of Art 60^th Anniversary Benefit Show, Rockland ME
New Acquisitions, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME
Paintings/Sculptures, George Marshall Store Gallery, York, ME

2005
Sublime Geometries, Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport, ME
Jeff Kellar/Frederick Lynch, Merrimack College Art Gallery, Andover, MA

2004
Sculpture & Related Work: Jeff Kellar/Lynn Duryea; Atrium Gallery, University of Maine Lewiston-Auburn, ME
Maine Biennial, Center for Maine Contemporary Art; Rockport, ME
Sublime Geometries, Center for Maine Contemporary Art; Rockport, ME
Icon Contemporary Art; Brunswick, ME

2003
Painting by Design; Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Icon Contemporary Art; Brunswick, ME
Current, Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque, NM

2002
Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art, Portland, ME
Abstraction In Maine, Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME
Icon Contemporary Art; Brunswick, ME

2001
Haystack: Pivotal Transformations, Maine Coast Artists, ME
Taking Stock, Gallery Joe, Philadelphia, PA
Abstractions: 22 Visions, Maine Art Gallery; Rose Marie Frick, curator

1999
Fellowship X Ten, Blaine House, Augusta, ME

1998
Maine Grid – Visual Counterpoint, Maine Coast Artists, ME

1997
The Unbroken Line, 1897-1997; Museum of American Art, Philadelphia, PA
Woodwork, Gallery Joe, Philadelphia, PA

1996
Twentieth Century Sculpture, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME
Eighth Triennial Exhibition, Fuller Museum of Art, Brockton, MA
Small Scale Sculpture, Gallery Joe, Philadelphia, PA

1993
Art That Work, Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC

1991
Lighting the Landscape: Artists’ Use of Light, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME
Gallery Artists Show; Dean Velentgas Gallery, Portland, ME

1990
Downtown / Downeast, Maine Coast Artists, Invitational
Reflections of the Built Environment, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME

1989
Interstices, Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME (Invitational)

1988
10, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME

1987
Soho Show, Winston and Co., New York, NY

1986
Artists Designed Furniture, Norton Gallery of Art, West Palm Beach, FL
3D work from Paintings, Workbench Gallery, New York, NY and Chicago, IL

1982
Maine Artists Invitational, Bowdoin Museum of Art, Brunswick, ME

Collections
Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL
Farnsworth Museum of Art, Rockland, ME
Maine Department of Conservation, Augusta, ME (Maine Percent for Art Program )
University of Southern Maine Lewiston-Auburn College, Lewiston, ME (Maine Percent for Art Program )
Mast Landing School, Freeport, ME (Maine Percent for Art Program )
Microsoft Collection, Seattle, WA
Museum of American Art, Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art Fellowship; Philadelphia, PA
Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME
Sea Road School, Kennebunk, MA (Maine Percent for Art Program )
Skowhegan District Courthouse, Skowhegan, ME (Maine Percent for Art Program )
University of Maine, Farmington, ME
University of Southern Maine, Gorham, ME (Maine Percent for Art Program )

Awards
2014
Adolf and Ester Gottlieb Foundation Grant

2007
Purchase Prizes (two), Portland Museum of Art Biennial, Portland, ME

2005
Good Idea Grant, digital printmaking, Maine Arts Commission, State of Maine

1997
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art Fellowship Purchase Award; The Unbroken Line- Centennial Exhibition

1996
Individual Artist Fellowship; State of Maine

1981
Daphne Award, industry design award

1971
Honorable Mention, Kenyon Film Festival, Kenyon College, OH

Press
2022
Jorge Arango, review of Walk the Line at Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Feb. 13

2021
Jorge Arango, In ‘minimalist luminist’ Jeff Kellar’s works, afew lines convey much, Maine Sunday Telegram Oct 24

2017
Barbara Koerble, Gravity and Light, Glasstire, September
Todd Camplin, Jeff Kellar Gravity and LightI, Modern Dallas, September

2016
Interview with Jeff Kellar, The Peter Paluska Show, WBOR 91.1 FM, July 9

2015
Michael Granberry, Jeff Kellar explores illusions in paintings, sculpture, The Dallas Morning News, March 12
Local Art: Jeff Kellar at William Campbell Contemporary Art, TSG Fort Worth, TX, February 18
Gaile Robinson, In the Galleries; Jeff Kellar at William Campbell Contemporary Art, DFW.com, February 20

2014
Daniel Kany, Corey Daniel Gallery makes the case for abstraction in Maine, Portland Press Herald, May 31
Mariah Bergeron, To Build a more perfect shape, The Portland Phoenix, May 22
Bob Keyes, Falmouth Painter Wins Major National Grant, Portland Press Herald, May 4

2013
Color+Form+Function, Collector’s Contemporary Gallery, Singapore, January- February

2012
Phillip Isaacson, In the Arts: Shows explore Maine woods, Paris Graffiti, geometric abstraction, Maine Sunday Telegram, October 7
Ken Greenleaf, Jeff Kellar’s Work Plays With Understanding, Portland Phoenix, September 19

2011
Britta Konau, Jeff Kellar, Maine Home and Design, November/December
Gallery News for Thursday, Radio broadcast, February 17, Albuquerque, 95.5 KHFM
Wesley Pulkka, Volumes are spoken in simplicity, Albuquerque Journal, February 6

2010
Daniel Kany, Art Review: Surface, subtlety and geometric grace: Kellar at Icon , Portland Press Herald, October 10

2008
Diane Armitage, Jeff Kellar and Anna Hepler: The Leap Show, THE Magazine, May
Jessica Adams, Pair of Artists explore form, space, Local IQ, Mar 6-19
Richard Levy Gallery, Albuquerque Arts, April

2007
Ian Paige, Contemplating Relationships, Portland Phoenix, April 11

2006
Art and Nature, Maine Arts Commission Magazine, Maine Department Of Conservation public art project, Winter

2004
Phillip Isaacson, In The Arts, Maine Sunday Telegram, June

2003
Dan Talley, Jeff Kellar, Sculpture Magazine, June Vol.22 No.5

2002
Jon Binzen, Jeff Kellar, American Craft, Aug-Sept.

2002
Phillip Isaacson, Another sculptural step forward for Kellar, Maine Sunday Telegram, April

2002
Roberta Fallon, Clay Time, Philadelphia Citysearch, November 27

2000
Roberta Fallon, Time and Space, Philadelphia Citysearch

2000
Valerie Cann, Maine Sunday Telegram

1998
Donna Gold, Maine Grid, Maine Times, November 12

1997
Edward Sozanski, Jeff Kellar/ Sculpture, Philadelphia Inquirer, Sept.7

1997
Gerard Brown, Special Effects: Jeff Kellar’s Wall Pieces, Philadelphia Weekly, Aug. 20

1997
Phillip Isaacson, Jeff Kellar: Sculpture, Maine Sunday Telegram, June 29

1996
Jeff Perrot, The Eighth Triennial Exhibition, Arts/Media, December

1996
Mary Sherman, Triennial, Boston Sunday Herald,October 1

1996
Edward Sozanski, Small Scale, Philadelphia Inquirer,August 30

1996
Robin Rice, I Dream of Geons, Philadelphia City Paper, August 16

1995
Ken Greenleaf, Maine Sunday Telegram, February 5

1995
Phillip Isaacson, Maine Sunday Telegram, June18

1990
Shirley Jacks, Art New England, July / August

1988
Shirley Miller, Ten: Portland Museum of Art, Art New England, June

1988
Edgar Allen Beem, Maine Times, April 22 & July 1

Books and Catalogs
2014
Maine Art New, Edgar Allen Beem, University of Maine Press

2012
Maine Art, Edgar Allen Beem, University of Maine Press

2007
Biennial, exhibition catalog, Portland Museum of Art

2005
Panels and Boxes: Jeff Kellar

2003
Color Space, September; essay by Dan R. Talley

2002
Barrier/Space, October; essay by V. Scott Dimond

1997
The Unbroken Line 1897-1997, Centennial Exhibition; Pennsylvania Academy of
Fine Art Fellowship Exhibition; exhibition catalog; Museum of American Art, Philadelphia, PA

1995
Perspectives: A Sense of Place; exhibition catalog; Portland Museum of Art

1990
Portland Museum of Art Bulletin, November, essay by Martha Severens, Curator
Maine Art Now; Edgar Allen Beem; Dog Ear Press
Art That Works; catalog; University of Washington Press, Lloyd Herman

1989
Interstices; exhibition catalog; Farnsworth Museum; Rockland, ME

1988
10; exhibition catalog; Portland Museum of Art; Portland, ME

Press Release
2024 Richard Levy Gallery at Atlanta Art Fair

2024 four by four at Richard Levy Gallery

2020 New Work: Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture at Richard Levy Gallery

2019 to the moon and back at Richard Levy Gallery

2014 Color Rhythms at Richard Levy Gallery

2011 20 in 2011 at Richard Levy Gallery

2011 Serious Play at Richard Levy Gallery

2008 The Leap Show at Richard Levy Gallery

2003 Colorspace at Richard Levy Gallery

2003 Current at Richard Levy Gallery