WILL KURTZ
Kurtz's subjects are real, everyday people, often undistinguished though vaguely familiar. Through these paper figures and animals, the artist channels both innocence and humor.
BIO
Will Kurtz (b. 1957, Flint, MI) received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from Michigan State University in 1981. He practiced as a landscape architect for 25 years, throughout the United States and Canada. It wasn’t until he was in his mid thirties that he began creating art as a self-taught artist. Eventually his passion for art superseded landscape architecture and he moved to New York at the age of 50 to attend graduate school at the New York Academy of Art. After graduation with an MFA he was selected to remain and do a one-year fellowship.
He has since had several solo and group shows is currently reptresented by Kim Foster Gallery, New York, Avant Gallery, Miami, Galerie Sebastien Adrien in Paris, and Galerie Van Campen & Rochtus, Antwerp, Belgium.. His work is in many prominent collections around the world. He works in Queens, and lives in New York.
Brooke and Chris, 2020
Wood, wire, newspaper, tape, glue, and varnish
Kurtz creates realistic life-size figures and animals out of newspaper with an internal structure made of wood and wire. The newspaper forms have a collage of words and colorful advertising that is applied in a spontaneous painterly fashion to reflect the mood and life of the individual.
His subjects are real, everyday people who are often undistinguished and living on the margins of society. The posture, gestures, facial expressions and clothing bring the figures to life.
“People inspire me. I find life to be humorous and absurd. I love New York with all the mix of cultures and all the different types of people and clothing styles. I get inspiration walking around and riding the subways. I am never disappointed. I hope I never lose this sense of awe.”
animals
CV
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021
August Salon, Coastal Contemporary
July Salon, Coastal Contemporary
JUNE Salon, Coastal Contemporary
May Anniversary Salon, Coastal Contemporary
2020
FLUID, Coastal Contemporary
Taking Inventory, Coastal Contemporary
2019
DRAWING, ASSEMBLAGE, COLLAGE, Clark Gallery
There Goes the Neighborhood: New
Art for The New, New York, Avant Gallery
2017
The Salon Show: 2017 Review / Preview 2018, Clark Gallery
Paperwork, Clark Gallery
ART FAIRS
2021
Avant Gallery at Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary | Art Wynwood 2021, Avant Gallery
2020
Avant Gallery at Art Wynwood 2020, Avant Gallery
2019
Avant Gallery at Art New York 2019, Avant Gallery
Avant Gallery at Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary 2019, Avant Gallery
2018
Avant Gallery at Art Miami 2018, Avant Gallery
Kim Foster Gallery at CONTEXT Art Miami 2018, Kim Foster Gallery