PORTALS LTD
CHICAGO
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JUAN KELLY
Juan Kelly grew up in Limon, Costa Rica, where, encouraged by his family, he began painting at the age of six. He is well known is his native country and has exhibited his work extensively throughout Europe, United States and Latin America. His work is a part of numerous private and public collections in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Europe and Japan. During much of his career, Kelly painted realistic still lives in the style of the Old Dutch Masters, and to this date the color and light he captures often has the essence of that style. Many of the traditional elements of those paintings are still found in his work: a velvety-rich tapestry, a vase, a bowl of fruit or a tablecloth.
The images in his paintings are metaphors for human experience. While some metaphors lie close to the surface, others are buried deep within the painting. To understand Kelly’s paintings, three aspects need to be considered: the visual image that evokes a magical world, the composition that creates the excitement and supports all the elements in the painting in a subconscious orchestration, and the actual meaning of the paintings. This last aspect is the most simple yet complex of all. Simple because we subconsciously and organically identify with the archetypes that the images represent. Complex because the meaning of the paintings is multi-layered and there is usually something that is about to happen, but has not yet happened, creating a striking moment in time.
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"Vegetarian Lions Don't Eat Eggs"
Oil on linen
38" x 54 "
Ref. # 9212470
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email : artisnow@aol.com
Street parking available
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