Richard Keen
Brunswick, ME
Richard Keen is a contemporary artist based in Maine. His work is in public and private collections internationally.
MessageRichard Keen is a contemporary artist based in Maine. From 1997-2003 he taught privately and in public schools. Since then, he has maintained a studio at Ft. Andross Mill in Brunswick (with a home studio in Dresden) and subsidizes his life as an artist by working as a diver.
Originally from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Keen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Millikin University in Decatur, IL, and a Master of Arts from S.U.N.Y. Albany.
His work appears in public and private collections internationally and he has been awarded multiple grants from various New England institutions. Keen's recent museum shows were at the Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart, IN and at the Zillman Art Museum, in Bangor, ME. He is represented in Maine by Moss Galleries in Falmouth /Portland, ME. Keen also exhibits with The Painting Center and Anita Rogers Gallery in New York, NY.
Keen has created public art and received grants from the Maine Arts Commission, University of Rhode Island, and the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. His work was included in the United States "Art in Embassies Program” and has been reviewed in Art New England, Portland Press Herald, Maine Home and Design, Dispatch Magazine, Fresh Paint Magazine, and Studio Visit Magazine.
Statement
As far back as I can remember I have made sense of the world through art.
An abstractionist, my work is known for use of color, line and geometry influenced by the Maine coast, where I live and work. My art begins from observation and experience. Nature, man-made objects and the spaces between them that often generate geometric shapes and patterns inspire me. I filter which elements of my observations and experiences to focus on by removing unnecessary detail.
The methods I use to paint vary. From scraping, wiping, brushing, and spraying to spreading the paint with palate knives and a variety of scrapers. I often balance the use of crisp lines and shapes (created by taping areas) against visible aspects of brushwork and other mark making processes.
My abstractions are rooted to the concept of place, while allowing the viewer space for their own interpretation and meaning.