Kelly Birkenruth’s paintings explore the quiet poetry found in moments of observation, whether through the expression of a face or the unexpected beauty of an everyday object. She is drawn to subjects that carry a sense of familiarity and emotion. “Through realism, I slow these moments down and invite the viewer to look more closely,” she says.
Susan Powell Fine Art, A Soft Breeze, oil, 10 x 10 in., by Kelly Birkenruth.
In her portraits, Birkenruth is interested in combining a person’s outward appearance with their inner world, suggested by a moment of introspection. “I use soft light and carefully observed details to allow the figures to feel both intimate and elusive,” explains the artist. “The flowers and flowing hair in these paintings become extensions of those emotions, suggesting vulnerability and quiet contemplation.”
Susan Powell Fine Art, Watermelon Wrapped in Whimsy, oil, 11 x 14 in., by Kelly Birkenruth.
For her still-life paintings, Birkenruth approaches ordinary objects with the same sense of attentiveness. A watermelon wrapped in newspaper becomes more than a familiar piece of fruit; its unexpected pairing with comic strips introduces humor, nostalgia and a sense of play. “I enjoy this tension between the ordinary and the unexpected—transforming something commonplace into a subject worthy of sustained attention,” she says.
Susan Powell Fine Art, Reveuse, oil, 15 x 8 in., by Kelly Birkenruth.
Birkenruth has exhibited her work in several museum shows nationally and abroad, including the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson Desert Art Museum, New Britain Museum of American Art, and Museu Europeu d’Art Modern in Barcelona, Spain. —
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www.kellybirkenruth.com
Represented by Susan Powell Fine Art
679 Boston Post Road | Madison, CT 06443
(203) 318-0616 | www.susanpowellfineart.com
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