Kelly Reemtsen

Biography

Kelly Reemtsen (b. 1967, Flint, Michigan) is best known for her bright and bold paintings of women carrying household tools such as chainsaws or axes. Her work often investigates the role of the modern woman, deconstructing societal perceptions of gender, power and femininity. Reemtsen's paintings are characterized by their thick impasto, stark white backgrounds, and anonymous figures.

 

Reemtsen is currently based in Los Angeles. She studied fashion design and painting at Central Michigan University and California State University Long Beach. Reemtsen has been involved with printmaking since the 1990s, studying etching and screenprinting in workshops and with educators across the United States.  Kelly Reemtsen’s work has been exhibited widely in North America, and is part of the Twentieth Century Fox and AT&T corporate collections.
Works
Video
Exhibitions
Art Fairs
Press
Bibliography

KELLY REEMTSEN 

Present                 Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA and London, UK 

 

1988-1990             California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 

 

1985-1987              BFA, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 

 

1967                          Born in Flint, MI 

 

SELECT SOLO EXHIBITS

 

2024             Kelly Reemtsen: Focus, albertz benda, New York, NY (forthcoming)

                         Kelly Reemtsen: Duality, David Klein Gallery, Detroit, MI

 

2022            Up Rising, Galleri Oxholm, Copenhagen, DK

                       Kelly Reemtsen: Multiples: A 10-Year Survey, albertz benda, 

                                  Los Angeles, CA 

 

2020            Kelly Reemtsen: The Shape of Things, albertz benda, New York, NY 

 

2019             Kelly Reemtsen, David Klein Gallery, Detroit, MI 

 

2018              Value, albertz benda, New York, NY 

                        Lyndsey Ingram, London, UK 

                        Galeri Oxholm, Copenhagen, DK

 

2016              Kelly Reemtsen, David Klein Gallery, Detroit, MI  

 

2015               Smashing, De Buck Gallery, New York, NY 

 

2014                Equal Opportunity, David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI 
 

2013                 America’s Sweetheart, De Buck Gallery, New York, NY 
 

2012                 Paper and Chalk, Skidmore Contemporary Art, Santa Monica, CA 

                            It’s All Up to You, Adler & Company, San Francisco, CA 

 

2011                      Clean, Skidmore Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 

                             New Paintings, David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI 

                             Circa, Skidmore Contemporary Art, Santa Monica, CA 

 

2010                  It’s My Party, Adler & Company, San Francisco, CA 

                             I’m Not Falling For You,  Skidmore Contemporary Art,

                                           Santa Monica, CA 

 

2009                 Recent Paintings, Caldwell Snyder, San Francisco, CA 

                             Striving for Perfection, David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI 

                             Recent Paintings, Campton Gallery, New York, NY 

 

2007                 Recent Paintings, Caldwell Snyder, San Francisco, CA 

 

2006                      Process & Palette, de Soto, Los Angeles, CA 
                              Object Lessons, University Art Gallery, California State

                                           University, Dominguez Hills, CA 

 

2005                        Good Living, de Soto, Los Angeles, CA 

                                All Through the House, Metro Gallery, Pasadena, CA 

                               Time Line, ONE Gallery, Palm Springs, CA 

 

2003                     Lifestyle, Gallery 825, Santa Monica, CA 

                                Three Decades of Design, Risk Art Press, West Hollywood, CA

 

2002                    Dress,  Metro Gallery, Pasadena, CA 

  

SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS 

 

2024                       Drawing: Detroit, David Klein Gallery, Detroit, MI 

 

2022                       Endless Summer, albertz benda, Los Angeles, CA 

 

2021                         THIS IS AMERICA, Kunstraum Potsdam, Potsdam, DE 

                                    A View From L.A.: Kim McCarty & Kelly Reemtsen, David

                                                  Klein Gallery, Detroit, MI

 

2020                         Fragmented Bodies, albertz benda, New York, NY 

 

2015                          First Show, David Klein Gallery, Detroit, MI 

 

2014                           Inaugural Exhibition, De Buck Gallery, Antwerp, BE 

                                     Art Silicon Valley, San Mateo, CA 

 

2012                            Candy, Skidmore Contemporary Art, Santa Monica, CA 

                                       Fashion, Conflict and Money, De Buck Gallery, NY 

 

2009                           Paintings, Skidmore Contemporary Art, Santa Monica, CA 

                                       Personal Territory, David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI 

                                       Contemporary Masters, Pasadena Museum of History,

                                                     Pasadena, CA

 

2008                           Summer Select, David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI 

 

2007                           Fresh, David Klein Gallery, Birmingham, MI 

 

2006                           Four Printmakers, Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, Haverford

                                                College, Haverford, PA 

                                       Best in Show, De Soto, Los Angeles, CA 

                                       Object Lessons, University Art Gallery, CSUDH, Carson, CA 

 

2004                           Gallery Artists, One Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 

                                       Chromatic Aberrations, ANDLAB, Los Angeles, CA