Show Preview | Gary Kim

Evergreen, CO
Evergreen Fine Art, October 3-31

Gary Kim, Two Young Men, oil, 16 x 20.

This story was featured in the October 2015 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art October 2015 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story

For Gary Kim, New Mexico offers a treasure trove of alluring subject matter, including aspen trees, rugged cowboys, and the Native American culture. This month Evergreen Fine Art features 20 new paintings by the Santa Fe artist in a show titled In the Spirit. It opens with a reception from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 3. “Gary is primarily known to our collectors for his luminescent landscapes and stunning aspen trees,” says Doug Kacena, the gallery’s director of exhibitions. “But this exhibition will not only feature landscapes but also showcase other subject matter.”

The presentation includes Kim’s portraits of Native Americans as well as a series titled Art in Art, which features works that pay homage to masters of figurative art. Kim says he has a longstanding interest in figurative works, “since I first held a pencil.” The interest continued when he was an art student at New York’s Pratt Institute and regularly visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art to study artists such as John Singer Sargent.

Today Kim’s paintings often feature two different styles. His figurative works tend to be realistic while his landscapes tend toward impressionism. “In figurative works, the accuracy of shape and mood are the most important to me,” he says. “Figurative painting requires sensitive care to proportions, gesture, and anatomy. Each brush stroke should convey authority and conviction with utmost confidence.”

In his landscapes, on the other hand, Kim’s main concern is to create an impression of a scene rather than realistically render all the details. His goal is to capture the effects of light on the subject “without hurting its natural beauty,” he says. Viewers of Kim’s landscapes can also expect to see scenes depicted in vibrant colors—bold blue skies and brilliant yellow-leafed aspen trees.

Originally from South Korea, Kim has grown to love his adopted home of Santa Fe, appreciating its rich cultural heritage and well-preserved natural beauty. “As an artist who loves to be surrounded by nature and to share spiritual communion with human beings, it’s not a coincidence that I fell in love with the Native Americans as subject matter for my figurative works and aspen trees for my landscapes.” —Bonnie Gangelhoff

contact information
303.679.3610
www.evergreenfineart.com

Featured in the October 2015 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art October 2015 print issue or digital download Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!