| BRIEF ARTIST BIO
Keith Bland
Born in 1958, Keith Bland’s journey
began in rural Texas. At 13, he moved with his family to
Memphis, Tennessee. He studied business in college and graduate
school and began his professional career in the American
corporate world. In 1990, at the age of 31, Keith resigned
his executive position with a New York City investment firm
to focus solely on his painting.
Keith opened his first painting studio in Oxford, Mississippi,
where he began to establish his reputation as a contemporary
portrait artist, specializing in children. In 1994, Keith
re-located to Key West, Florida. The natural visual environment
of the Florida Keys, specifically the beautiful waters surrounding
the Keys, became a major influence on his art. Since 1994,
Keith has explored the visual effect of water and fluidity
on the human figure and currently, on the human face. His
most recent series of self-portraits began in 2005, entitled “Reflection” continues
his elemental exploration of water’s transforming quality;
visually, realistically, and symbolically. The “Reflection” series
is the artist’s visual representation of his journey
to self-acceptance.
Throughout Keith’s life, his creative impulses have
been primarily inspired from colors and forms in our natural
environment. He opened a second studio in New York in 2002,
and by the end of 2003 his contemporary fruit “still
life” paintings were underway. In early 2005, the still
life paintings slowly evolved in the the seemingly surrealistic “Fallen
Fruit” series featuring pieces of fruit suspended (or
falling) on a natural background of sky and horizon.
|
1958
|
Born
in Texas. |
1972
|
Relocated
with family to Memphis, Tennessee. |
1981
|
Received
Bachelors degree in business from Baylor University |
1987
|
Received
Masters degree in business from Columbia University |
1990
|
Began
career as self-taught artist. |
1991
|
Opened
painting studio in Oxford, Mississippi. |
1994
|
Relocated
painting studio to Key West, Florida. |
2002
|
Began
dividing time between studios in Key West and New
York City. |
Primary
focus 1990-2003 - commissioned portraits of children
in oil.
Portraits hang throughout the United States.
Honored
by the Key West Art and Historical Society in 1997,
by receiving special recognition for work submitted to the South Florida
regional artists' exhibition.
Completed
four oil paintings and murals in 1992 for sets of a Disney-produced
movie. The work currently hangs at Universal Studios
in Orlando.
1991-1992
painting "Labor Day Morning, Oxford, Mississippi"
selected by the Oxford Tourism Council for it's 1992 Oxford publicity
poster.
|
July
1991
|
The
Basement Gallery |
Oxford,
MS |
|
Sept
1991
|
Askew,
Nixon, Ferguson, & Wolfe |
Memphis,
TN |
|
Mar
1992
|
Harvest
Cafe |
Oxford,
MS |
|
July
1992
|
Eaton Gallery |
Memphis,
TN |
|
Sept
1992
|
The Wine
Press |
Dallas,
TX |
|
Mar
1995
|
Southside
Gallery |
Oxford,
MS |
|
Dec
1995
|
East Martello
Museum |
Key
West |
|
Aug
1997
|
East Martello
Museum |
Key
West |
|
Sept
1997
|
La Te Da
Restaurant |
Key
West |
|
Oct
1997
|
East Martello
Museum |
Key
West |
|
Feb
2004
|
Harrison
Gallery |
Key
West |
|
Feb
2004
|
Southside
Gallery |
Oxford,
MS |
|
Jun
2004
|
J.P. Morgan
Chase Bank |
New
York City |
|
Jun
2004
|
Key West
International Airport |
Key
West |
|
Jul
2004
|
Gourmet
Garage SoHo |
New
York City |
|
Sept
2004
|
Jay Etkin
Gallery |
Memphis,
TN |
April 2005 |
Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour
(TOAST) |
New York City |
May
2006
|
Tribeca Open Artist Studio Tour
(TOAST) |
New York City |
Feb/Mar 2007 |
Gavroche |
New York City |
|
