Kevin Demery
Demery received his BFA from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA, in 2014 and his MFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL, in 2018. He is a full-time professor at the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, MO. He is one of three recipients of the 2024 Charlotte Street Visual Artist Awards, and his work is currently on view at the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City as part of the award exhibition. He also participated in the Delta Triennial at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Art in Little Rock, AR, and Art Cologne in Cologne, Germany with Sakhile&Me Gallery in 2024.
In his artist statement, Demery shares, “I’ve always found poetry in objects that convey multiple histories, objects that, through context and placement, drastically change meaning. For this reason, I employ a diverse range of media rooted in traditions of assemblage. My practice triangulates intimate examinations of childhood, racial subjugation, and autobiography. Large-scale mobiles, anagram puzzles, and printmaking are some of the common vehicles I use to convey my areas of interest. I use a kitsch-like aesthetic that momentarily veils the weight of the subject matter, traversing historical images, childlike objects, and sculptural conventions to draw the viewer into an environment with each piece. This is done as a means to demonstrate the power of the materials used and to pique curiosity in the narratives that lie within them.” On being accepted into the residency program, Kevin states: “I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to have a Studios Inc. residency. As a sculptor that is invested in creating work that is challenging both in concept and scale, having this large space to call home will help propel my creative endeavors to new heights. I intend to make significant life-size works with my new studio.”
