Kirkland Bray’s New Exhibition at Calico Gallery Showcases His Dreamlike, Natural Landscapes

The most recent exhibition from gallery house Calico (67 West Avenue) attributes the do the job of Kirkland Bray painter, collagist, and designer, whose most current selection is titled Undisclosed Spots.

Kirkland Bray is a bit of an outdoorsman whose operate is usually influenced by scenic, wondrous spots in character. His newest series of paintings captures the eye with attractive hues, and mystical environments topped off with a thought-provoking twist. 

Bray has been portray what he refers to as “gatherings” for yrs, subtly combining picturesque scenes he stumbles on in serious lifestyle with the realities of the virtual globe. While he by no means necessarily commences a selection with a distinct topic or intention in intellect, around the years, these paintings of gatherings became a commentary on the consequences of oversharing in the electronic age. 

You’ve viewed it ahead of: anyone you stick to embarks on a scenic tour and concurrently exhibits off all the facts of exactly where they are, how they acquired there, and how you can working experience it much too. Several of us in a natural way dwell a lot more publicly by means of social media, and it acquired me thinking – are there spaces that social media has not touched? What are the internet sites we continue to hold key? 

“During these excursions, I uncover myself seeking for sparks of inspiration in landscapes and quirkiness in mother nature. Some of these scenes develop into backdrops, and some I sculpt and alter to fit an obnoxious selection of human beings.”

Kirkland Bray

Bray’s perform is actually a mild observation of the globe these days and evokes a playful motivation for unplugged, magic formula adventure.

The title, Undisclosed Places, points out the inevitability of our preferred undisclosed areas starting to be public, even when we want to keep them close. And though the strategy might audio detrimental, Bray speaks of it with a fondness — as however he’s recalling his own beloved undisclosed areas (which he rightfully wouldn’t expose to me). His appreciation for these enchanting spaces and these moments is obvious all through this collection. 

Bray began portray in college or university but never supposed to go after it professionally. With a degree in manner structure, Bray landed in Los Angeles soon after faculty and worked at a coffee property wherever he had his initially art clearly show and marketed his to start with piece. Although functioning at the coffee property, Bray found himself at a local pawn store in which he obtained a vintage leather-based check out strap and applied it for his own check out.

Immediately after a wealth of compliments from good friends and patrons, Bray and his brother had been influenced to begin Billykirk: a leather design enterprise. They began by creating view straps and have since expanded to baggage, belts, accessories, and other leather products. The brothers have been jogging the business enterprise together because 1999.

Now, Bray is having fun with combining his artwork everyday living with his layout everyday living. His paintings can be uncovered on the net both of those on his personal web site, and on the Billykirk web-site. 

His exhibition will be at Calico until May perhaps 22nd, 67 West St, Suite 203, open up on the weekends from 1 p.m – 6 p.m. 

“Undisclosed Areas is Bray’s first solo exhibition in Brooklyn and will characteristic a variety of new paintings, blended media is effective, and the to start with release of Calico’s new print sequence: Calico Editions. This new challenge will characteristic a different artist every single month with a minimal version 11” x 17” Risograph print, signed and numbered by the artist.” 

Calico

Hold an eye out for far more from Calico before long!