Ken Kewley's 2005 Collage Exhibition Reveals Unheralded Mastery of Color and Form

From September 15 to October 28, 2005, Lori Bookstein Fine Art in New York presented a solo exhibition of 22 collages by Ken Kewley. Despite exhibiting since 1991, Kewley had received minimal critical attention. His works reinterpret paintings by masters like Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, Braque, and Giorgione through precise arrangements of colored paper. Kewley's process involves studying palettes from other painters, landscapes, or models, then translating them into shaped paper placements without layering or brushwork. Notable pieces include a series based on Renoir's nude bathers, where skin tones and volumes emerge through color juxtaposition. Works like Pittsfield Houses (1999) and View out Back, Easton (2003) flatten architectural and natural forms, recalling analytic Cubist techniques. Patio Hammock (1997) echoes Stuart Davis and early Cubist papiers collés with centered elements. Judith with the Head of Holofernes (after Giorgione) (2005) demonstrates Kewley's ability to capture complex tonal ranges with minimal paper pieces. The exhibition highlighted Kewley's innovative approach to color and form, challenging the art world's oversight of his work.