Michael Kessler (American, b.1954) is best known for his geometric and colorful paintings. He was born in Hanover, PA, and was drawn to art from a very young age. Kessler attended Kutztown University, where he received a bachelor's degree in Fine Art. While an undergraduate student, he was awarded a fellowship from the Whitney Museum of American Art. He studied and painted in New York City as part of the Whitney Independent Study Program. During this time, Kessler met Richard Tuttle (American, b.1941) and Dorothea Rockburne (Canadian, b.1932), both of whom influenced his work. After graduation, he took a job as a bus driver to support himself while painting after hours.
Kessler began his career as a landscape painter, but most of his works are Abstract and inspired by nature. He primarily uses acrylic paint on wood panels, but he has also used oils. One of Kessler's well-known paintings is Fritillary, which features a swirling and dripping shape broken into blocks of different colors. The sage and earth-tone color palette infuses the painting with the natural feel that has become one of Kessler's hallmarks. He received his break when Tuttle introduced him to a New York City gallery owner named Jack Tilton. Kessler showed some of his paintings at the gallery, and it launched his career. He had five solo exhibitions at Tilton's gallery and won the Rome Prize in 1991.
Though influenced by nature, Kessler also lists music, books, and movies among his inspirations. He rarely sketches and prefers to begin painting without a plan. One of his inspirations is Claude Monet (French, 1840–1926). In a recent interview, Kessler explained: "He was basically just a normal guy who loved to make beautiful paintings based on nature, and he surrounded himself with natural beauty." Jeunesse is another typical representation of his work. The piece is painted with sage and neutral tones and features a prominent filigree design. The painting's color palette, swirling lines, and texture give it the appearance of a treasure map. The work is further accentuated with two geometric grids.
Kessler’s work has been shown at Gallery Bienvenu in New Orleans, Madison Gallery in La Jolla, and Lanoue Fine Art in Boston. He won the Pollock-Krasner Award in 1992 and received a grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts in 1983. The artist is married and lives and works in Santa Fe, NM.
