Don Keene

Local painter Don Keene is a product of Pasadena’s Art Center College of Design. Having maintained a residence and studio in Westchester County, New York, for may years, he relocated to Connecticut in 2001. He has become known in the area for his artistic expertise with the human figure, both in his own work and in his teaching, though his concerns with the figure, as well as with the world around us, are less illustrative than they are metaphoric. States Keene, “The subject matter of my paintings and the physical application of pigment combine to portray the omnipresent struggle to split our time between the demands of everyday life, and the innate human desire for nurture and connection. While the relentless speed at which we function impedes our desire for timeless, nurturing activity, the jarring, irregular and unforgiving clamor, and rush of everyday demands makes meaningful intimate human interaction frustrating, at best, and too often impossible. I am intrigued by the terrible juxtaposition and strain between these two forces, to nurture and to keep pace.” Embedding himself in the creative process can result in quasi representational images of landscapes reminiscent of the early 20th century American Impressionists or vivid, expressive conceptions evocative of Edvard Munch and R. B. Kitaj, with equal panache.

See more of Don's work on Instagram @don_keene_art