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Are we to paint what’s on the face, what’s inside the face, or what’s behind it? ~Pablo Picasso

Although art, technology and conceptual art are deep seeded passions, I’m a sucker for a great painting. Illustrative and figurative work often straddles between commercial and fine art. Then again, it depends on what the artist is trying to achieve with highly representational and figurative works. Kenney Mencher’s exhibition, Renovated Reputations, currently showing at ArtHaus showcases what a skilled draftsman can create with colorful stories as inspiration. The work is communal, engaging, textural, and fun. Yes, folks, art can be FUN (I’ll get to the serious stuff later, for those interested)!!

Mencher’s work for Reputations is well spun fiction with a vintage feel, and an impressive use of alla prima.

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Renovated Reputations: Paintings and Fiction inspired by Vintage Portrait Photographs

With touch screen technology, social media, and high definition television, the traditional artist must find ways to captivate an audience in a digital age. Kenney Mencher‘s, Renovated Reputations: Paintings and Fiction inspired by Vintage Portrait Photographs, forthcoming exhibition at the ArtHaus gallery is, certainly, a show that piques my interest.

In reviewing his work, there is definitely a progression in both style and content. The Renovated Reputations should be a treat to individuals not familiar with his work and impressive to those that have followed him over the years. Much of my excitement is seeing him take his strengths (storytelling and fine art painting) and creating compositions that are engaging with a striking energy that is difficult to deny. I’ll post more after seeing the show, which opens on Friday, April 8th.

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ArtHaus at 411 Brannan Street in San Franciso, CA

Is it possible to have an art crush on two gallerists? My answer: Yes

James Bacchi and Annette Schutz opened ArtHaus in 1996 and have since created a fostering gallery environment for their stable of artists and connected with the San Francisco community in so many ways (i.e., philanthropic work with many charity organizations is just one example). After meeting the pair, their passion is remarkable. Along with their love for the Arts, the artists they have represented over the past 15 years serve as a testament to their commitment to artists’ progression and evolution. A proper write up of ArtHaus is forthcoming but I wanted to share prior to something much more formal.  

If you’re thinking about visiting ArtHaus, think no longer. Please visit James and Annette. It will be more than nice.