keven brennan
painter

Keven Brennan is a painter, poet, and musician. He was born in South Bend, Indiana. While studying saxophone at the New England Conservatory, he was encouraged by an art professor to pursue his painting. Since then, he has done commissioned work, sold privately, and exhibited in the Los Angeles area where he now lives with his wife and two sons. About his recent work, Keven says "I've moved away from large canvases to smaller, intimate, miniature improvisations that comment on my attitude toward modern life."

Statement about the art
There's a steady stream of communication flowing between us, buried deep within unconscious movement and gesture. It’s a driving urge to transmit a signal and connect... Is anybody out there?

Living in Los Angeles
"My inspiration owes much to the diverse urban landscape of Los Angeles. My day might begin producing a gritty funk tune and end jamming with an international improv ensemble. And sometimes in the middle of the night, I paint while listening to conspiracy theories.” (Keven Brennan)


Artwork periods and series

"Rebirth of the unknown" - mixed media on claybord (2011 - present)

"Romance of the Rubble... is anybody out there?" - pastel, ink and pen on claybord  (2009 - 2010)

"In the Clouds with My Ancestors" - cabinets, cutting boards, door  (2006 - 2008)

pastels  (2002 - 2005)

acrylics, oils, and spray paint  (1983 - 2003)




"This is my argument:
Unbridled joy and wisdom
can be lovers.
In my paintings,
one is always trying
to satisfy the other.

- Keven Brennan

"Rebirth of the Unknown"
an exhibition of mixed media on claybord

"Footprints of the train, bones of the rocket,
love notes of the factory..."

- Keven Brennan 

"Romance of the Rubble... is anybody out there?"
an exhibition of pastel, ink, and pen on claybord

"We agreed that it was daylight.
We were not dreaming, and the world
had come to an end.
Most structures had been pushed to sea
where they yawned and creaked and sparked.
"Ha!" she said, squinting into the distance,
"someone’s drying their clothes."

- Keven Brennan

"In the Clouds with My Ancestors"
an exhibition of art on cabinets, cutting boards, and door

"I've never touched them physically.
But I listen and I hear rhythmic shuffling.
I end up in their dreams.  I speak in tongues.
The paint is mine and the hands are mine,
but the things I create sometimes mystify me.
This work is a thank you to those
ancestors still dancing in the clouds."

- Keven Brennan

To purchase the book of the "In the Clouds with My Ancestors" exhibit
along with the artist's inspirations and thoughts:

an exhibition of a...
By Keven Brennan