Artistic Practice:
Printmaking, serigraphy specifically, has become my main artistic focus. In it, I explore the relationship of outline and shape - where the outline transcends its role and itself becomes shape, interacting with the inner shape and the surrounding negative space. I take advantage of the process to create undulating forms, cleanly expressed, and as eye-catching and thought-provoking as I possibly can. "Hey, take a look!"
I also paint, pursuing recurrent themes in black and white. Abstraction is a dominant theme - letter shapes - the abstract nature of language - and meaning in shapes, words creating meaning as well as pure form.
I am an avid photographer of vintage signs - see Instagram @dpkessler. My formal photographic work is focused on groupings of photographs within which interplay of subject and composition are explored. I generally rev up the color saturation and contrast to suggest or express a lush dreamlike quality.
Exhibition List:
Jan, 2022 Four Printmakers, Sidestreet Gallery, Portland, OR, group show.
Sept, 2021, Day of the Dead, Guardino Gallery, Portland, OR, group show.
June-Aug, 2021, Print Arts Northwest at Rogue Gallery and Art Center, Medford, Or, group show.
Dec 2019, Human/Nature, Antoinette Hatfield Hall, Portland, OR, group show.
Oct, 2019, Emerald Print Exchange, Sequoia Gallery, Hillsboro, OR, group show.
May, 2019, Olympic Mills, Portland, OR. group show, (Illuminated Grocery List series).
Jan, 2019, Small Image - Big Talent, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, group show.
Dec, 2018, “6x6”, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, group show.
Nov, 2018, Signs of Life, Perfect Exposure Gallery, Alhambra, CA, group show.
Sept, 2018, Parsing Sign and Image, Art League Rhode Island, Providence, RI, group show.
April, 2016, Signgeeks do MONA, Museum of Neon Art, Glandale, Ca. group show.
April, 2011, CAP Silent Auction, Portland, Or, group show.
January, 2011, Multnomah Starbucks, Portland, OR, solo show.
June, 2009, Uptown Starbucks, Portland, OR, solo show.
May and June 2008, Bridgeport Brewery, Portland, OR, solo show
Jan, 2008, Urban Wineworks, Portland, OR, solo show
Feb, 2007, Three Square Grill, Portland, OR, solo show
April, 2005, CAP Silent Auction, Portland, Or,
June, 2001, National Prize Show, Cambridge Art Association, Cambridge, MA
Feb, 2001, Multnomah Art Center, Portland, OR, solo show.
Sept, 2000, Littmann Gallery, PSU, Portland, OR, solo show.
June, 2000, Allied Arts Northwest Competition, Bellingham, WA
Sept, 1998, Convergences, Cornish College, Seattle, WA
June, 1991, Sioux City Art Center Biennial, Sioux City, IA
May, 1991, Artafex Art Gallery, group show, Mpls, MN
Sept, 1989, Hair Police Gallery, solo show, Mpls, MN
Aug, 1988, Rifle Sport Gallery, solo show, Mpls, MN
June, 1987, Sioux City Art Center Biennial, Sioux City, IA
May, 1987, Rifle Sport Gallery, group show, Mpls, MN
1997- B.F.A. Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA
1973 - B.A. Studio Arts, Carthage College, Kenosha, WI