Kentree Speirs

Gestural, formal and swirling with energy, Kentree Speirs’ works pulse, recede, fuse, and divide in delirious combinations. Though landscapes, their aesthetic is rooted in action painting, where a meticulous process is applied onto a surface, giving it life. Kentree is a painter’s painter, one propelled by the mysterious act of painting itself. Each work is a sifting, searching operation, guided by an intuitive balance of colour, light, and form. While derived from the peaks and striations of glacially carved mountain forms, the shapes dissolve into each other, abstractly suggesting the logic of chance, sublime beauty, and mystery involved in the constructive process.

The subject in the works is merely a visual reference, from which Kentree distances himself, thereby approaching the phenomenon of the thing itself. In playing out alchemical creation on the arena of the canvas, the earth is turned out, and typically static mountains breathe and morph as if synthesizing molten rock in an ethereal, non-descript space. The search for meaning in Speirs’ images is expressed through the terms set by the paint. While in this space, one hopes to see something that cannot be seen except through the medium. In this way, the paint moves beyond being a symbol, where it becomes the event in and of itself.

Breath

2018
Oil On Panel
36″ x 48″
$4,900.00

Through The Trees

2018
Oil On Panel
38″ x 30″
$3,600.00

CV

Education

Bachelor of Fine Art, Minor in Geology (summa cum laude)
Portland State University, Portland, OR (2006)
Fine Arts
University of Utah (1984-1986)

Awards and Grants

Cultural Development Award, City of Nelson Mayor’s Office (2017)
Project Grant, North Kootenay Lake Arts & Heritage Council and Columbia Basin Trust (2016)
Langham Artist-in-Residence, Kaslo, BC (November – December 2016)
Art About Agriculture Purchase Award, sponsored by the Larry Curtis Family (2011)
Purchase Award, sponsored by the late Margaret Hogg (2011)

Selected Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions

2017 Solo Exhibition “Taking Chances”, Ian Tan Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Two Person Exhibition, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Solo Exhibition, Gibson Fine Art, Calgary, AB
2016 Artist-in-Residence Exhibition, Langham Gallery, Kaslo, BC
Two Person Exhibition, Linda Hodges Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA
Two Person Exhibition, Gibson Fine Art, Calgary, AB
2014 Solo Exhibition, Gallery 378, Nelson, BC
2013 Two Person Exhibition, Gallery 378, Nelson, BC
2011 Solo Exhibition, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
2010 Solo Exhibition, River Bend Fine Art Gallery, Bend, OR, USA
Solo Exhibition, Blackfish gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Two-Person Exhibition, Hanson Howard Gallery, Ashland, OR, USA
Solo Exhibition, Bend Independent Contemporary Art, Bend, OR, USA
2009 Solo Exhibition, Black Butte Ranch, Sisters, OR, USA
Front Window Show, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Back Room Show, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
2008 Borderline Series: Two-Person Show, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
2007 New Members Exhibition, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Portrait Series: Solo Exhibition, Retail Therapy Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA
2006 Series: Solo Exhibition, Affinity Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
2006 Solo Exhibition, Food For Thought Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
Solo Exhibition, Utrecht, Portland, OR, USA
Solo Exhibition, Poster Garden Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
2004 Solo Exhibition, National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR, USA
1997 New Watercolours: Solo Exhibition, Island Contemporary Gallery, Kauai, HI, USA
1993 Pen and Ink: Solo Exhibition, Universe Café, Taos, NM, USA
1986 Solo Exhibition, Blue Mouse Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

Selected Group Exhibitions

2017 North Kootenay Lake Arts & Heritage Council Annual Salon of the Arts Exhibition, Kaslo, BC
“Ian Tan Projects”, rotating show in provisional project space, Tsawwassen, BC
5th Annual South Granville ArtWalk, South Granville Gallery Association, Vancouver, BC
2016 Summer Group Show, Ian Tan Gallery, Vancouver, BC
Rotating Summer Group Show, Gibson Fine Art, Calgary, AB
Members Exhibition, Gallery MAR, Park City, UT, USA
Annual Salon of the Arts curated by North Kootenay Lake Arts & Heritage Council, Langham
Gallery, Kaslo, BC
2015 “Deck the Walls” a show of small works, Ian Tan Gallery and the South Granville Arts Gallery
Association, Vancouver, BC
“Spiritual Nature” Invitational Showing of Four Artists, Seattle Art Museum Sales and Rental
Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA
Summer Group Show, Ian Tan Gallery, Vancouver, BC
North Kootenay Lake Arts & Heritage Council Annual Salon of the Arts, Langham Gallery, Kaslo, BC
2014 Selected Works, Gallery 378, Nelson, BC
Group Show, Seattle Art Museum Sales and Rental Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA
2013 Group Show, Seattle Art Museum Sales and Rental Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA
Gallery 378, Nelson, BC
2012 Group Show, Seattle Art Museum Sales and Rentals Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA
2011 Nomination Show, 29th Annual Art About Agriculture (Ways into the Region), Oregon State
University, La Sals Stewart Center, Corvallis, OR, USA
Nomination Show, 29th Annual Art About Agriculture (Ways into the Region), Rogue Gallery
and Art Centre, Medford, OR, USA
Group Show, Seattle Art Museum Sales and Rental Gallery, Seattle, WA, USA
“Consciousness”, Bend River Fine Art, Bend, OR, USA
Group Show, Bend River Fine Art, Bend, OR, USA
2010 Group Show, Bend River Fine Art, Bend, OR, USA
All Oregon Art Annual Salon, Salem, OR, USA
Group Show, Gallery 110, Seattle, WA, USA
Group Show: Drawings, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Group Show, Bend Independent Contemporary Art, Bend, OR, USA
2009 Blackfish Gallery Backroom Group Show Ð Small Works, Portland, OR, USA
Seattle Art Museum Sales and Rental gallery, Seattle, WA, USA
Autzen Gallery, PSU Alumni Exhibition juried by Chicago art critic James Yood, Portland,
OR, USA
Feature Artist of Group Show, Bend Independent Contemporary Art, Bend, OR, USA
Group Show, Bend Independent Contemporary Art, Bend, OR, USA
30th Anniversary Members Group Show Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
“Oregon Seen” Group Show, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
2008 Group Show juried exhibition (by Nancy Lindberg), The Art Center , Corvallis, OR, USA
Backroom Group Show, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Gender Symposium, Group Show, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR, USA
Keep Portland Weird Juried Exhibition, Portland City Hall, Portland, OR, USA
“Digital Dimensions”, Mt Hood Community College, Portland, OR, USA
Window Installation, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
“Pacific Pacifists” Curated by Anne Bullock, Carnegie Art Center, , Walla Walla, WA, USA
“Healthy Living”, Portland’s City Hall, Portland, OR, USA
Invitational Group Show, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Portland, OR, USA
Three-Person Show, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
2007 Members Group Show, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
Invitational Group Show, Portland Center for the Performing Arts, Portland, OR, USA
Group Show, Portland Art Center, Portland, OR, USA
Group Show for the Multiculturalism Symposium, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR, USA
Group Show Juried Exhibition (by Beppu Wiarda Gallery), ArtCentric, Corvallis, OR, USA
“Pacific Pacifist” Group Show, Newport Visual Art Center, Newport, OR, USA
Members Backroom Exhibit, Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
“Pacific Pacifist” Blackfish Gallery, Portland, OR, USA
“Modern Myths”, The Grey Area Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
“Modern Myths”, MJ Higgins Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, USA
2006 “Word and Hand”, Auzten Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
2005 Group Show, M K Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
“Air”, Food For Thought Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
2004 Group Show, M K Gallery, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
1986 Group Show, Gittins Gallery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Group Show, Finch Lane Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
1984 Group Show, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA

Commissions and Donations

Commission, Pebima, Calgary, AB
Commission, Patty Brewton, Yellow Horned Billed Bird, Spokane, WA, USA
Commission “All Things A-New”, Kathleen Adams, Durango, CO, USA
Commission, Lynn Brown, Portland, OR, USA
Commission, David McNally, ME, USA
Commission, Botanical Illustrations for Clouds Hill Farm, Portland, OR, USA
Commission, Sharon Helms, Portland, OR, USA
Commission, Shoshana and Jesse Rapapore, Boston, MA, USA
Commission, Annette Robinson, San Diego, CA, USA
Commission, Hollis Coulthard, North West Landscape Chronicles , Wheeling, MO, USA
Commission, Dr. Michael Zimmerman, Portland, OR, USA
Commission, Cheryl Thoen, Portland, OR, USA
Commission, Dr. Kip Kemple, Portland, OR, USA
Commission, Dr. Joel Agresta, Portland, OR, USA

Collections

City of Seattle, WA, USA
City of Portland, OR, USA
KNC Inc. Toronto, ON
ZAP Welding, Kaslo, BC
Pembina, Calgary, AB
360 Bond LLC (NAI Norris, Beggs & Simpson) Bend, OR, USA
Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences
Copacino and Fujikado Advertising Agency, Seattle, WA, USA
Clouds Hill Farm, Portland, OR, USA
National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR, USA
Native American Youth Association (NAYA) Portland, OR, USA

Publications

STUDIO VISIT Publication, Spring Edition, Volume 13, 2011
Oregonian, Arts and Entertainment, Visual Arts Review by Bob Hicks, April 15, 2011
STUDIO VISIT Publication, Summer Edition, Volume 12, 2010
STUDIO VISIT Publication, Spring Edition, Volume 9, 2010
Go Magazine, Arts Review, June 4, 2010
Nugget News, Review by Oenta Gentry, August 4, 2009
Oregonian, Review by D.K. Row, 2009
Slurve Magazine, 2007