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Born in 1958 in Port Angeles, WA, United States


1992, M.F.A., SUNY/Stony Brook, NY

1983, B.F.A., University of Washington, WA


"I’m always a bit confused when asked to create an artist’s statement. When I start painting, I have no idea or concept in mind other than the arrangement of objects in space, a concern for edges and shapes, movements, colors, composition, etc. In the end, there is invariably a subject. It was there all along, waiting to be revealed, but it was something I did not consciously pursue. This is much like the work of Philip Pearlstein, who insists there is nothing intended in the subject matter he portrays. The nude is immediately available for interpretation, it is loaded with connotations. In almost any realistic artwork (at least one of quality) there is an inherent subject matter. If an artist is true to his observations, his feelings, and his time, there will inevitably be a subject matter to find and discuss. Since Kant’s 'Dual Aspect Theory,' we have been aware of our own phenomenological experiences (Noumena--objects as they truly are, and phenomena--objects as we perceive them to be). Our phenomenal, psychological, cultural, social, and philosophical experiences are reflected back into the work of art--it is an unavoidable consequence. This process of focusing on the objective aspects of a realist work is quite unlike abstraction, which we (often) feel it necessary to support with all kinds of subjectivity (not that this is bad). "

Ron Kellen, March 2000

  • Selected Solo Exhibitions
    • 1992: Library Gallery, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY, ROK, The Figurative Tradition

    • 1992: Library Gallery, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY, ROK, Dualities in Being

    • 1988: Espresso Roma, Seattle, WA

    • 1987: Mount Baker District Studio, Seattle, WA

    • 1985: Burke Museum , University of Washington, Boiserie Cafe, Seattle, WA


  • Selected Group Exhibitions
    • 1999: Staller Center/University Art Gallery, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY, MFA Alumni Show

    • 1997:
        Catherine Smith Gallery, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, The Halpert Biennial

        Suffolk Community College, Ammerman Campus, Seldon, NY

    • 1996:
        Pentimento, Stony Brook, NY, Nancy Bueti-Randall & Ron Kellen

        Studio 703, Port Jefferson, NY

        Gallery North, East Setauket, NY, Local Color

    • 1995:
        University Art Gallery, Staller Center for the Arts, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY, Eighteen Suffolk County Artists

        Bald Hill Gallery, Brookhaven Arts and Humanitites Council, Farmingville, NY, Winners Exhibition

        St. George’s Country Club, Stony Brook, NY

    • 1994: Spokane Art School, Spokane, WA, Humans

    • 1992:
        Hampton Square Gallery, Westhampton, NY

        University Art Gallery, Staller Center for the Arts, SUNY, Stony Brook, NY, MFA Exhibition

    • 1991:
        Woodstock Artist’s Association, Woodstock, NY, Hudson River Watercolor Exhibition

        Heckscher Museum, Huntington Township Arts League, Huntington, NY

        Smithtown Township Arts Council, Smithtown, NY

    • 1990:
        Hellenic Community Council of Brooklyn and Staten Island, Brooklyn, NY

        College Art Association, Voorhees Gallery, Hunter College, New York, NY


    • Thomas Burke Memorial Museum, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

    • Evergreen State College Gallery, Olympia, WA

    		•

    Selection of works from Ron Kellen

    Read the guestbook of Ron Kellen

    Sign the guestbook of Ron Kellen

    • Harrison, Helen A. “Local Color.” The New York Times. August 18, 1996. p.24.

    • Braff, Phyllis. “Screen Printing Gems and a Focus on Effective Visual Displays.” The New York Times. March 26, 1995. p.24.