The Curb Art Space — 535 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001 — 212 502-0058
Joseph Kilrain
Joseph Kilrain's Biography Raised in South Philly, I learned art through my family, catholic school, and adventure.
My work can be divided into 2 topics, the whimsical paintings and raw drawings.
The paintings have 3 parts: the medium, subject, and aftershocks. The medium is predominately acrylic sometimes with other artistic accents. The subject is based on: my personal life, friends and family, and corporate America. Usually the paintings talk about past memories. The aftershocks are what make my paintings unreal. How they have premonitions of my future or planetary events. These aftershocks have left everyone wondering 'Why didn't he / we see it coming?'.
My drawings talk about past childhood / adolescent memories and situations. The detailed, starch black and white visuals, and sheer energy make each drawing intense. A very personal insight in my everyday thinking.
Joseph Kilrain's Statement "My aim is to point out the flaws and irony of corporate America, my life and friends," said Kilrain. I put the phrase - "I want it all' in all the paintings. I believe it to be the American way - striving for more than we have, more than we start with, to create and build a better life and to never stop wanting more - and not from a materialistic standpoint but from goals."
The world, to me, is a place filled with adventures. I don't agree with the fact that the world is full of mean people, just a society that refuses to look for the good in people. In my paintings, I search for these meanings in the world. All of my work is based on relationships with friends and family, corporate America, and the cycles life has put me through. Both this jubilance and search for meaning is portrayed through my art. The paintings use bright colors and superficially has a fun style. When one looks closer into the paintings he/she can realize the depths of the messages - deception, greed, corruption, death, unity, perseverance, rebuilding, positive thinking, and faith.
"I want it all" is a phrase that I write on all of paintings. I put it in the paintings for the viewer to spend a little more time to decipher my work. I thought of this phrase when I was in High School. I didn't have much, but what I did have I made the most out of. And the more I wrote this phrase I realize that everyone can relate to it. They have their own idea of how "they want it all".
Currently, I am working on three new phases of my art and growth. WilKil Art is a collaboration of two unique styles that blend to speak one message. It takes art as a voice, differences in styles and interpretations, to make music on canvas. The pieces represent epic art - large in size, detailed in imagery, and carries a message within its world. Next, I sit on the board of the Young Soloists of New York Chamber Society. I handle all the duties of critiquing artists' works, organizing revenue building ideas, and development of artists that are from all walks of life.The biggest phase is the creation of my diary. I thought that I should start a written diary based on my past. Before I wrote a single word, my mind switched and the idea to turn my diary into a visual masterpiece began. A five+ year project in which I've drawn different scenes from my most gruesomely sad and wildly insane moments of my childhood into one book. Page after page, one can immediately feel the massive emotional undertow of the work. The drawings are created solely with pencil and marker. Some critics have even said my paintings have no meaning when compared to my diary.
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
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
