Florida Artists Group

Kevin's Bio:

Kevin Grass was born in Topeka, Kansas in 1968, but spent his childhood in the small Midwestern town of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. He has been interested in art since he was a young child. While in high school, he spent time on a wide variety of commissioned works, ranging from portraits and landscapes to campaign signs and car decorations. He also apprenticed with a local figure sculptor in his hometown from the time he was twelve until the sculptor’s death in 1990.

Grass’s formal education in art began at Washington University in St. Louis, where he received his undergraduate degree in painting and drawing in 1990. He earned his master of fine art degree from the University of Georgia four years later.

After completing graduate school, Grass began teaching art full-time at Gordon College in Barnesville, Georgia. In addition to teaching, he pursued corporate art commissions, regional juried shows, and had his first solo museum exhibition.

Grass paints primarily representational landscape and surrealistic figure paintings. He exhibits his work throughout the East and Southeast and his figure paintings are currently represented by the Evan Lurie Gallery in Carmel, Indiana. Grass’s work has been purchased for museum, corporate, public, and private collections throughout the United States and in Europe. He has been living in the Tampa Bay area with his wife and son since 1997, where he is a full-time Assistant Professor of Art at St. Petersburg College in Clearwater, FL.

Artist Statement: Figure Paintings

My recent figure paintings address contemporary social and political issues. The ideas for these works come from a variety of places – personal experience, behavior of family or friends, or topics that saturate the evening news.

The figures in the paintings are not idealized. Instead, they are neighbors and friends acting out narratives that address common societal issues. Some employ humor, others use horror. The themes depicted include a variety of human shortcomings, including immorality, short-sightedness, ignorance, deception, and self-destruction.

There is an intentional feel of a stage set to my paintings. When designing the pieces, I start with the figures and their positions. The space and remaining props are added afterward, serving a supporting role in the development of the narrative. Often, the scenes are inspired by art historical works. I prefer using a highly representational approach, inspired by Northern Renaissance artists like Jan van Eyck. As with his paintings, not all of my symbols are meant to be easily understood. This ambiguity is supposed to mirror real-life experiences, where some things are difficult to interpret.

It is my hope that the paintings will stimulate contemplation and discussion of contemporary social issues. Ideally, this will lead viewers to make positive changes in their personal choices and how they interact with others.

 

Solo Exhibitions

2013            Red Dot Art Fair. Miami, FL
                    American Commentary. Evan Lurie Gallery, Carmel, IN
2012            Red Dot Art Fair. Miami, FL
2009            Just Landscapes. Weedon Island Preserve, St. Petersburg, FL
                      Landscapes. Brooker Creek Preserve, Tarpon Springs, FL
2006            A Sense of Place. Cabinet Meeting Room, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL
2003            Revelations. The Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL
2001            Florida Landscape. Governor’s Gallery, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL
1997            Observations. Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
1995            Solitude. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
1994            Recent Paintings. Fridholm Fine Arts, Asheville, NC
1993            Recent Works. The Green Door, Asheville, NC
1991            Figure Paintings. Visual Arts Building, Jefferson Community College, Hillsboro, MO

 

Group Exhibitions

2014            2014 Collectors’ Choice. Sylvia White Gallery, Ventura, CA
                     LaGrange National XXVII. LaGrange Museum of Art, LaGrange, GA
                     An Arts Legacy: George Inness, Jr. in Tarpon Springs. Leepa Rattner Museum of Art,
                     Tarpon Springs, FL
2013            Florida Artist Group 63rd Annual Symposium. Lemoyne Center for the Visual Arts,
                     Tallahassee, FL
                     Figuratively Speaking. Studio 18 in The Pines, Pembroke Pines, FL
2012            Seventh Annual Juried Exhibition. International Society of Acrylic Painters. Dazzio Art Gallery,                      St. Petersburg, FL
                     Southern Appalachian Artist Guild National Juried Exhibition 2012. Blue Ridge, GA
                     FLAG Area IV Exhibition. Octagon Art Center, Clearwater, FL
                     Florida Artist Group 62nd Annual Symposium. Selby Gallery, Ringling School of Art and Design,                      Sarasota, FL
2011            Ongoing On-line Juried Exhibition. Addiction and Art. www.AddictionAndArt.Org.
                     Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition. International Society of Acrylic Painters. Carrollwood Cultural                      Center, Tampa, FL
                     Southern Appalachian Artist Guild National Juried Exhibition 2011. Blue Ridge, GA
                     Florida Artist Group 61st Annual Symposium. Art and History Museum, Maitland, FL.
                     Florida Artist Group Area 4 Exhibition. Beach Art Center, Indian Rocks Beach, FL
                     Seventh Annual National Drawing, Painting, and Printmaking Competition
                     Jan and Gary Dario Gallery, Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL
                     Florida Artist Group Annual Symposium. Cornell Museum of Art, Del Ray Beach, FL
2010            Sin! Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, FL
                     Fifth Annual Juried Exhibition. International Society of Acrylic Painters, Carrollwood Cultural                      Center, Tampa, FL
                     Horizon: Contemporary Landscape. Community Arts Center, Danville, KY
                     National Art Encounter 2010. The von Liebig Art Center, Naples, FL
                     13th Annual International Society of Acrylic Painters International Open Exhibition. Santa Cruz                      Art League Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA
                     Second Annual St. Petersburg College Visual Arts Faculty Exhibition. Leepa-Rattner Museum of                      Art, Tarpon Springs, FL
                     LaGrange National XXVI Biennial Exhibition. LaGrange Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
                     Florida Artist Group Annual Symposium. Big Arts, Sanibel, FL
2009            Fourth Annual Juried Exhibition. International Society of Acrylic Painters,
                     Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
                     Florida Artists Group 59th Exhibition. Armory Art Center, West Palm Beach, FL
                     SPC Faculty Exhibition. Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs, FL
                     Florida Artist Group Annual Symposium. Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, Tarpon Springs, FL
                     Florida Contemporary: Paintings and Photographs. Invitational exhibition.
                     Naples Museum of Art, Naples, FL
2008            Dorfmuller Drawing and Print Exhibition, Tampa Realist Artists, Tampa, FL
2008           National Juried Exhibition, Atlanta Artists Center, Atlanta, GA
                     Liturgical and Sacred Art 2008. Springfield, IL
                     Art Encounter 2008. The von Liebig Art Center, Naples, FL
2007            100% Pure Florida, Fifth Avenue Art Gallery, Melbourne, FL
2007            Annual Florida Artists’ Exhibition. Bonita Springs Center for the Arts, Bonita Springs, FL
2006            Humanity: Contemporary Art of the Humane Image. Gallery 51, North Adams, MA
                     Present-Perfect. Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL
                     Figurative. Ormond Museum of Art, Ormond Beach. FL
                     Modern Masters: Oil Painters on Display. Progress Energy Gallery, New Port Richey, FL
                     Liturgical and Sacred Art 2006. Springfield, IL
                     Katherine Butler Gallery, Sarasota, FL
                     LaGrange National Biennial XXIV. Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
2006           National Art Exhibition. Visual Arts Center, Punta Gorda, FL
2005           UnWrapped. Dunedin Fine Art Center, Dunedin, FL
                    A National View at Grandview. Atlanta Artists Center, Atlanta, GA
                    Seventh Annual Judeo-Christian International Juried Online Art Exhibition,
                    Upstream People Gallery, Omaha, NE
2005           Annual Florida Artists’ Exhibition. Bonita Springs Center for the Arts, Bonita Springs, FL
2004           International Figure Exhibition. Red Dot Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
                     Southeastern Juried Exhibition 2004. Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL
2003            PLG Art, Naples, FL
2002            UnderCURRENT/overVIEW. Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL
                     Southern Vistas, Blue Spiral One, Asheville, NC
                    The Artworks Collection, Charleston, SC
2001            Third Inaugural Exhibition, Millennium Arts Center, Washington, DC
                      Ambassadors Galleries, Inc. Palm Beach, FL
2000            62nd Annual National Exhibition of Contemporary American Paintings,
                     Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, FL
                     Tribeca Fine Arts, New York, NY
                     The Southern Scene: Contemporary Landscapes. Blue Spiral One, Asheville, NC
1999            Uncommon Ground. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL
                     Summer Juried Exhibition. International Artist Management, St. Petersburg, FL
1998            Images of Faith. Blue Spiral One, Asheville, NC
                     Tenth Annual All Florida Spring Juried Exhibition. The Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL
1997            Group Exhibition. Fridholm Fine Arts, Asheville, NC
1996            Georgia Arts 1996. Morris Brown College, Atlanta, GA
                     LaGrange National Biennial XIX. Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum,
                     LaGrange, GA
1993            Lyndon House Annual Juried Exhibition. Lyndon House Art Center, Athens, GA.
1992            National Graduate Drawing Competition. Allen Preibe Gallery,
                     University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, WI

Awards

2013             Honorable Mention. Dave Bown Projects – 6th Semiannual Competition
                      Best of Show. Florida Artist Group 63rd Annual Symposium
                      Lemoyne Center for the Visual Arts, Tallahassee, FL
                      Grand Prize. People and Figures Competition, International Artist Magazine
2012            Second Place. Seventh Annual Juried Exhibition. International Society of Acrylic Painters
                     Dazzio Art Gallery, St. Petersburg, FL
                     Second Place for 2-D. Southern Appalachian Artist Guild National Juried Exhibition 2012.
                     Blue Ridge, GA
                     Fonchen Lord Memorial Award. Florida Artist Group 62nd Annual Symposium
                     Selby Gallery, Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota, FL
2011            Ru Israel Award. 61st Annual FLAG Symposium, Art and History Museum, Maitland, FL
                    Best of Form and Color Award. Form and Color Book. April 2011
2010            Cash prize. Fifth Annual Juried Exhibition. International Society of Acrylic Painters,
                     Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
                     Physicians Regional Healthcare Systems Best of Show. National Art Encounter 2010. The von                      Liebig Art Center, Naples, FL
                     M. Graham Materials Award. 13th Annual International Society of Acrylic Painters International                      Open Exhibition. Santa Cruz Art League Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA
2009            Best of Show, Fourth Annual Juried Exhibition. International Society of Acrylic Painters,                      Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
                     First Place, Acrylics. Art Buzz, The 2009 Collection. Art Buzz Publishing,
                     Seminole, FL, February 2009
2008            First Place. Fifth National Juried Art Exhibition. Atlanta Artists Center, Atlanta, GA
                     First Place. Dorfmuller Drawing and Print Exhibition, Tampa Realist Artists, Tampa, FL
2007            Award of Merit. 2007 Annual Florida Artists’ Exhibition. Bonita Springs Center for the Arts,                      Bonita Springs, FL
2005            First Place. A National View at Grandview. Atlanta Artists Center, Atlanta, GA
                     Merit Award. Annual Florida Artists’ Exhibition. Bonita Springs Center for the Arts,
                     Bonita Springs, FL
1999            President’s Award. 62nd Annual National Exhibition of Contemporary American Paintings,                      Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, FL
                    Purchase Award. Uncommon Ground. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL
                    Membership Award. Summer Juried Exhibition. International Artist Management,
                     St. Petersburg, FL
1996            Merit Award. Georgia Arts 1996. Morris Brown College, Atlanta, GA
                     Merit and Purchase Awards. LaGrange National Biennial XIX. Chattahoochee Valley
                     Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
1994            Liquitex Art Materials Award for Graduate Students.
1990            Juror’s Special Merit Award. Young Artists’ Competition, St. Louis Artists’ Guild, St. Louis, MO
                     Liquitex Art Materials Award for Undergraduate Students.
                     Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
                  

Publications

Everyday People, American Art Collector, April 2013, pages 144-147.
People and Figures, International Artist Magazine, April/May 2013, pages 4 and 5
Working Title. workingtitlepublications.com. November 2012
META: An Interdisciplinary Journal. St. Petersburg College Honors College, 2012.
Form and Color Book. Form and Color Publishing, Largo, FL. April 2011
Eyman, Scott. Mix of media, subjects works at Armory’s exhibit. Palm Beach Post, Arts and Culture, September 22, 2009
Art Buzz, The 2009 Collection. Art Buzz Publishing, Seminole, FL, February 2009
Public Art in Pinellas County brochure. Cultural Affairs, Pinellas County, summer 2008, page 11
Celebration of the Sacred. The State Journal-Register. Thursday, April 7,2006, pages 10A and 11A
Michaela Oberlaender. Traditional Techniques, Exceptional Results. Tampa Bay Magazine,
Volume 20, Issue 5, September/October 2005, pages 177-180
Direct Art Magazine, Volume 11, Spring 2005 edition
Lennie Bennett. Trunks, Twigs and Tension. St. Petersburg Times, Weekend section, October 2, 2003
Joanne Milani. Artistic Undercurrents. Tampa Tribune, Baylife section. July 28, 2002
New American Paintings, Volume 34, Southern Competition
David Hopes. Contemporary Landscapes. Asheville Citizen Times, May 21, 2000 (B7)
Amelia Davis and Mary Ann Marger. Adam and Eve Painting Pulled for Nudity. St. Petersburg Times, Clearwater Times section, October 20, 1999
David Hopes. Serving Two Masters. Asheville Citizen Times, November 22, 1998 (D4)
Kitsy Rose. History Mural. Atlanta Journal Constitution, Northside Neighbor section, January 14, 1998.
Vol. 30, No. 2
Cathy Byrd. Georgia Artists’ Work Covers Spectrum. Atlanta Journal/Constitution Weekend Preview.
August 23, 1996.

 

Public Collections

2007            First City Bank, Ft. Walton Beach, FL
2006            Pinellas County Arts Council, Clearwater, FL
2002            Materials Research Park, Gainesville, FL
                     Leesburg Complex, Dept. of Transportation, Leesburg, FL
2001            5th District Court of Appeals, Daytona Beach, FL
                     Alachua County Health Dept., Gainesville, FL
2000            Florida DOTBrooksville Maintenance Yard, Brooksville, FL
                     Pinellas County Arts Council, Clearwater, FL
1997             St. Joseph’s Hospital, Atlanta, GA
1996            Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
                     The Southern Company, Atlanta, GA
1992            St. Mary’s Hospital, Athens, GA

 

Representation

2013 to present – Evan Lurie Gallery, Carmel, IN
2013 to present – ArtPlus, Rockport, MD

 

Education

M.F.A.- Drawing and Painting            University of Georgia, Athens, GA. 1994.
B.F.A. - Drawing and Painting            Washington University, St. Louis, MO. 1990.

Teaching

Assistant Professor of Art                     St. Petersburg College, Clearwater, FL. 1997 to present.
Instructor of Art                                      Gordon College, Barnesville, GA. 1994 – 1997.
Teaching Assistant                                 University of Georgia. Athens, GA. 1991 – 1994.