The Curb Art Space - 220 West 30th Street, New York, NY 10001 - 212 502-0057
Joseph Kilrain
Joseph Kilrain's Biography
Born and raised in South Philly, PA. I learned art through my family, catholic school, and adventure.
My work can be divided into two topics, the whimsical paintings and raw drawings.
The whimsical paintings have three definitive subjects: family and friends, my personal adventures, and corporate America.
Living in a world that considers everyone guilty until proven innocent, I find myself at the forefront of adventure with many strangers. My life stories are full of fortunate misfortunes, blessings in disguise. In my work, I use bright colors and a fun artistic style to portray messages derived from these past memories. When viewers delve deeper into the paintings for meaning, the central themes – deception, greed, corruption, death, unity, perseverance, rebuilding, positive thinking, and faith – may resonate with them in a profound and personal way.
Certain paintings have the phrase "I want it all" hidden within the work. I found signing the front of the work to be distracting when I was younger so instead of signing I created this phrase.
In 2001, I started a visual diary based on my past memories. I've used different scenes from my gruesomely sad and wildly insane childhood moments. Page after page, one can immediately feel the massive emotional undertow of the work. The drawings in the diary ‘When God was asleep' are created solely in black and white with pencil and marker. The follow-up diary, ‘When God was awake' uses a wide array of colors. This diary speaks on moments of my life that without divine intervention from God I would not be the person I am today.
Artist Quote: The World is full of inspiration, to notice is technique
Joseph Kilrain's Solo Exhibitions
2005
The Curb Artspace, New York, NY
2001
'Thai Show', East Village, New York, NY
2000
'pARTy', Beach Street Loft, New York, NY
The CementWorks - 'Grand Opening', New York, NY
1999
'Wine with Art', Windows of The World (World Trade Center), New York, NY
Joseph Kilrain's Selected Group Exhibitions
2009
'Successful Alumni Show', Art Institute of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
2008
'Sacred Surveillance', The Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, New York, NY
2007
'Who, What, Where, When, Why, How is God?', The Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, New York, NY
'Beyond Borders', The Curb Art Space, New York, NY
2006
'Take Five', The Curb Art Space, New York, NY
'Successful Alumni Show', Art Institute of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
2005
'Walk-a-thon', Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation, (Battery Park) New York, NY
'Successful Alumni Show', Art Institute of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
2004
'Walk-a-thon', Juvenille Diabetes Research Foundation, (Battery Park) New York, NY
