Description
About me
Blair Kurtz (b 1981, Los Angeles, CA) is an abstract painter who loves to connect with people emotionally and psychologically through her work. She works with acrylic paint and spray paint and also draws. Although trained in traditional pencil drawing at a young age, her focus is on the thereaputic properties of abstraction and becoming one with her work. She is a member of the Los Angeles Art Association associated with Gallery 825 in Los Angeles, CA, and has shown her work in both Los Angeles County and Orange County. Blair teaches an abstract drawing and painting class to children on the autism spectrum.
Painting is my visual diary about thoughts I cannot express into words. I pour my experiences into my artwork, painting from a deeply personal place, expressing my chronic pain and the strength and desire to live fully. This conflict of my inner body is chaotic, but also hopeful. For me, painting is an effective avenue for healing my body and psyche. Up close my paintings are very active, but at a distance this activity emerges into light and hopefulness. This chaos comes forward as a positive and emotional message without negating the losses and darkness of living through them. I am not only healing through my artwork, but I am also sharing my hope of healing with others.
I experiment with different ways of applying paint to canvas, using kitchenware, hardware tools, and other random objects. I see an interesting method of expanding what I use to paint with beyond brushes and palette knives.
Work / Education
Gallery Exhibitions
2019 “Innocence” Linus Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2017 Celebrating Ocean Life Gallery 1980, Costa Mesa
2017 Paths to Beauty, Virga Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca
2017 Virga Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2017 Expressions, Virga Gallery, Laguna Beach, Ca
2016 Imagine" Platt Gallery Los Angeles, CA
Southwestern University School of Law (Los Angeles, California 2006 to 2010 business law, intellectual property
Undergrad Bachelors in Philosophy with a concentration in Applied Ethics
Loyola Marymount University (Marina del Ray, California ) 2004 to 2006 studio art classes
collegiate scholar, International Honor Society, International Philosophy Honor Society, Magnum Cum Laude, National Honor Society
Santa Monica College (2003 to 2004) studio art & art history classes
Trinity College (Hartford, CT) 2000 to 2002, studio art classes 3 season collegiate athlete, philosophy and pre-law