Ray Kleinlein

He studied at the Ohio State University and the Columbus College of Art and Design, and earned his master’s degree in painting and art history at Ohio University. He had his first one man show in 1997 while still in graduate school. Since then he’s exhibited extensively in one person and group shows and museums throughout the United States. Kleinlein’s paintings are in over 300 corporate and private collections throughout North America and has received national attention through features in the magazines New American Paintings and Southern Living.

STATEMENT

Realistic still life painting is, perhaps more than any other genre, consciously intended to be situated within a long-standing tradition. As a contemporary artist who deliberately chooses to work within the parameters of a traditional genre and to employ a traditional mode of representation, my challenge is to create work that embraces tradition (which I’m convinced remains vital and relevant for our time) while simultaneously transcending the sense of nostalgia often attributed to it.

The formal language I employ is a synthesis of traditional and contemporary aesthetics, particularly those associated with geometric abstraction and minimalism. Some paintings contain wry references to particular modern painters (a painting of striped shirts is a nod to Brigit Riley, and a creased shopping bag recalls Mark Rothko, for example). While from a distance (or reproduced in images) my paintings may seem illusionistic, the technique denies neither the physical texture of the paint nor the flat surface of the canvas.  In this way my paintings integrate traditional illusionism and contemporary formalism:  they are convincing representations of actual objects as well as abstract arrangements of light, shape, and color. 

Though the objects are initially chosen for their abstract visual qualities, decontextualized, and re-presented in a conceptual space, no object is neutral. As material fragments of everyday life they become signifiers for culture, class, identity, desire, gender, and the body.  Narratives, some of which are autobiographic in nature,  are subtly implied. 

Ultimately my paintings celebrate the simple act of looking at the overlooked and the pleasures derived from seeing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. As affirmations of the beauty of unremarkable things, the paintings enthusiastically embrace human culture and the material world while suggesting a life-affirming optimism, reverence, humor, and an underlying spirituality.

RESUME

Education

1998         MFAin Painting and Art History, Ohio University

1993         BA, Fine Arts, English and Art History. The Columbus College of Art and Design and The Ohio State University

Exhibitions

2018         Collaborations, with Hadas Tal, Cumberland Gallery, Nashville, TN.

2017          Paul Thiebaud Gallery, San Francisco, CA.

                  Art Seattle; Seattle, CA.

                  Art Market, San Francisco, CA.

                  Art Miami, Miami, FL.

                  Parker Gallery, Sea Island, GA.

2016           Southern Ohio Museum; Portsmouth, OH; one person show

                   Cumberland Gallery; Nashville, TN; group show

                   Seattle Art Fair; Seattle, WA; art fair

                   Art Market San Francisco; San Francisco, CA; art fair

                   Keny Gallery; Columbus, OH; group show

                   Paul Thiebaud Gallery; San Francisco, CA; group show

                   Cumberland Gallery; Nashville, TN; group show

2015            EXPO Chicago; Chicago, IL; art fair

                   Parker Gallery; Sea Island, GA; group show

                   Anne Neilson Fine Arts; Charlotte, NC; group show

2014            Cumberland Gallery; Nashville, TN; group show

2013            Cumberland Gallery; Nashville, TN; group show

                   Todd Gallery, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN; juried show

                   Art Miami, Paul Thiebaud Gallery; Miami, FL; art fair

2012            Lynchburg Academy of Fine Arts; Lynchburg, VA; juried show

2011            Keny Gallery; Columbus, OH; one person show

                   Art Chicago, Paul Thiebaud Gallery; Chicago, IL; art fair

                   Murfreesboro City Hall; Murfreesboro, TN; one person show

                   Emory and Henry College; Emory, VA; one person show

                   Paul Thiebaud Gallery; San Francisco, CA; group show

2009         Keny Gallery; Columbus, OH; one person show

                   Longwood Center for the Visual Arts; Farmville, VA; benefit auction

                   Art Chicago, Paul Thiebaud Gallery; Chicago, IL; art fair

2008            Art Miami, Paul Thiebaud Gallery; Miami, FL; art fair

                   Christa Faut Gallery; Cornelius, NC; one person show

2007            Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum; Hampden-Sydney, VA; one person show

                   Perry Nicole Gallery; Memphis, TN; two person show

                   Longwood Center for the Visual Arts; Farmville, VA; benefit auction

2006           Keny Gallery; Columbus, OH; two person show

                   Hunter Museum of American Art; Chattanooga, TN; benefit auction

                   Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum; Hampden-Sydney, VA; group show

2005            Keny Gallery; Columbus, OH; group show

                   Keny Gallery; Columbus, OH; two person show

                   Longwood Center for the Visual Arts; Farmville, VA; benefit auction

2004          Christa Faut Gallery; Cornelius, NC; one person show

                   Michael Orr Gallery; Columbus, OH; group show

                   Keny Gallery; Columbus, OH; group show

                   Van Every Gallery, Davidson College; Davidson, NC; one person show

                   Metrolina; Davidson, NC; benefit auction

                   1708 Gallery; Richmond, VA; juried show

                   Dairy Barn Art Center; Athens, OH, group show

2003           Christa Faut Gallery; Cornelius, NC; group show

2002           Smith Gallery, Davidson College; Davidson, NC; one person show  

                   Keny Gallery; Columbus, OH; two person show

2001            Hiestand Galleries, Miami University; Oxford,OH; juried show (juror, James Demetrion, director Hirshhorn Museum; Second Place, National Young Painters Competition)     

                   Cox Fine Art Center; Columbus, OH; juried show

                   Bedford Gallery, Longwood College; Farmville, VA; group show      

                   Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum; Hampden-Sydney, VA; one person show

2000            1708 Gallery; Richmond, VA; group show   

                   Columbus Museum of Art; Columbus, OH; juried show (juror, David Reed)

                   Keny Gallery; Columbus, OH; group show

                   Cultural Arts Center; Columbus, OH; group show

1999            Hunter Museum of American Art; Chattanooga, TN; benefit auction

                   Mansfield Art Center; Mansfield, OH; group show.

                   Shot Tower Gallery; Columbus, OH; juried show (juror, E. Joyce Moore; Chess award)

                   Lisa Kurts Gallery; Memphis, TN; group show

1998          Hunter Museum of American Art; Chattanooga, TN; benefit auction

                   Greer Museum; Rio Grande, OH; group show.

                   Columbus Museum of Art; Columbus, OH; juried show (juror, Klaus Kertess)

Collections

Museum:      Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, OH

                    Canton Museum of Art, Canton, OH

                    Davidson College permanent collection; Davidson, NC

                    Southern Ohio Museum, Portsmouth, OH

Corporate:    American Tire Distributors; Huntersville, NC

                    Art Aspects, Charlotte, NC

                    Bowling, Bowling and Associates; Memphis, TN

                    Guardsmark Corporation; Memphis, TN

                    Law Offices of John Alden; Columbus, OH

Private:        over 300 private collections throughout North America and Europe.

Reviews and Publications

2011             A! Magazine for the Arts, April (reproduction)

2010            2010 South Atlantic Modern Language Association Conference Program (cover)

2009            Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, April 19 (reproductions)

                    Farmville Herald, January 9 (reproduction)

2008            Frederick, Charity. Creative Loafing, May 14 (reproduction)             

2007            The Hampden-Sydney Review of Poetry (cover)

2006            Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, November 12 (reproductions)

                   Nichols, Ann.  Chattanooga Times Free Press, November 5 (reproduction)

2004            Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, July 11 (reproductions)

2005            The Journal (Ohio State University literary magazine) (cover)

2004            Carolina Arts, October 4

                   Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, July 11

2002            Baldwin, Lindy.  The Davidsonian, October 2 (reproductions)   

                   Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, March 24 (reproductions)

                   Mascal, Richard.  The Charlotte Observer, September 9 (reproductions)

                   Miami University Pacesetter, vol. 10 (reproduction)

                   Puckett, Laura.  Libertas, September 12 (reproduction)

2001            Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, July 22 (reproduction)

                   The Hampden-Sydney Review of Poetry (cover)

2000            The Garnet, Fall (reproductions)

                   Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, March 12 (reproduction)

                   Jerigan , Sarah. Southern Living, October (reproduction)

                   Kluth, Eric.  News Journal, January 3

1999            Hall, David.  The Memphis Flyer, May 20

1998            Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, July 26

                   New American Paintings, August/September (reproductions)

                   Poster, Ohio University graduate painting program (reproductions)

1997            Catalog, Columbus College of Art and Design (reproduction)

                   The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN), August 22 (reproduction)

                   The Memphis Flyer, August 21 (reproduction)

1995            Heisler, Eva.  The Columbus Dispatch, January 15

1994            Columbus Alive, July 4 (reproduction)

                   Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, June 30

                   Kline, Hillary.  This Week (Columbus, OH), June 22 (reproduction)

1993            Hall, Jacqueline.  The Columbus Dispatch, November 7

Awards and Grants

         12 x 12, Middle Tennessee State University, award of merit; 2013

         Lynchburg Academy of Fine Arts juried show, second place; 2012    

         Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Professional Artist Fellowship; 2008

         Davidson College Faculty Research Grant; 2003            

         Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Professional Artist Fellowship; 2002

         Miami University National Young Painters Competition, second place; juror James Demetrion, director Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C.; 2001

         Ohio Art League, Mary Lou Chess Award; 1000

Authored Reviews and Articles

         Kleinlein, Ray.  “Artificial Reality: Soviet Photography 1930-1987.”  Dialogue: Voicing the Arts, (March/April 2000)

         _______.  “Formal Distortions.”  Dialogue: Voicing the Arts, (July/August 1999)

         _______.  “James B. Moore.”  Dialogue: Voicing the Arts, (November/December 1999)

         _______.  “Nothing If Not Critical by Robert Hughes.”  Dialogue: Voicing the Arts, (March/April 2001)

         _______.  “Paintings by Chris Hyndman.”  Dialogue: Voicing the Arts, (September/October 2000)

         _______.  “Recent Drawings by Lowell Tolstedt.” Dialogue: Voicing the Arts, (January/February 2001)

         _______.  “Reflections on Twenty Years.”  Dialogue: Voicing the Arts,  (May/June 1999)                  

         _______.  “September 11, 2001.”  Dialogue :  Voicing the Arts, (November/December 2001)

Lectures and Gallery Talks

         Southern Ohio Museum; Portsmouth, OH; 2016

         Central South University; Changsha, China; 2013

         Emory and Henry College; Emory, VA; 2011

         Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum; Hampden-Sydney, VA; 2007

         Longwood Center for the Visual Arts; Farmville, VA; 2004

         Hampden-Sydney College; Hampden-Sydney, VA; 2004

         Central Piedmont Community College; Charlotte, NC; 2002

         Davidson College; Davidson, NC; 2002

         Lynchburg College; Lynchburg, VA; 2001    

         Esther Thomas Atkinson Museum; Hampden-Sydney, VA; 2001 Cultural Arts Center; Columbus, OH; 2001

Teaching

2009-2017  Middle Tennessee State University; Adjunct, Department of Art; Murfreesboro, TN

2007-2008  Hampden-Sydney College; Visiting Assistant Professor of Fine Arts; Farmville, VA

2007              Hampden-Sydney College; Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts;  Farmville, VA

2006-2007  Longwood University; Lecturer, Department of Art; Farmville, VA

2006              Lynchburg College; Lecturer, Department of Art; Lynchburg, VA

2002-2004  Davidson College; Visiting Assistant Professor of Art; Davidson, NC

2003              Hampden-Sydney College; Lecturer, May Term in France; Paris, France

2001-2002  Longwood University; Lecturer, Department of Art; Farmville, VA

2000-2001  Hampden-Sydney College; Visiting Assistant Professor of Fine Arts; Hampden-Sydney, VA

1997-1998 Ohio University; Instructor of Drawing, Foundations Department; Athens, OH

                         Ohio University; Teaching Associate, Department of Art History; Athens, OH