Solo Exhibitions
2022
the deepest soundings, Fringe Gallery, Ruston, LA
order in an unruly zoo, Black Mountain Center for the Arts, Black Mountain, NC
2021
social geometries, Anne Rudd Galyon & Irene Cullis Gallery, Greensboro College, Greensboro, NC
stop.moment, Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2018
_i_u_, Pink Dog Studios, Asheville, NC
2017
Believe me, London District Studio (The London), Asheville, NC
2016
Secondary, London District Studio (The London), Asheville, NC
2015
Don’t ____ the _____., Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas, NC
verb, Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC
Polaroids, Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
2014
Sequentiality, John M. Crawford Gallery, Asheville School, NC
New Work, Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA
At the intersection of atoms, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
2013
This is my History, Loft Gallery, The Bascom, Highlands, NC
Circles & Cycles: Year 13, Artetude Gallery, Asheville, NC
and if, between the two, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL
2012
Viaticus (installation), Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, University of Louisiana, Lafayette, LA
you can have it all, Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC
2010
the bucket, the water, and the well, Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC
the in between is mine, Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2009
day night, Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill College, NC
2008
Circle & Cycles: Large Pastels Plus, Contemporary Art Gallery, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA
The Hanging Garden, Turner Gallery, Centenary College, Shreveport, LA
2007
petite chênière, Abercrombie Gallery, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
Stratum, Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2006
Cubitum: measure of a man, The Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, NC
2005
Linear Stories/Circular visions, Gallery C, Raleigh, NC
Short Stories, tones & reticulations, Wesley Lake Gallery, Asbury Park, NJ
2003
Compilation, Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA Short Stories, Gallery C, Raleigh, NC
2000
New Work, Gallery C, Raleigh, NC New Work, Wyndy Morehead Fine Art, New Orleans, LA
1999
1994-1999, Five years, The Balcony Gallery, Asheville, NC
1998
Recent Works, Louisiana Tech Art Gallery, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA
1997
Boundaries, Levee Gallery, Monroe, LA
1995
Painting, drawing & graphic work, Calcasieu Marine Tower, Lake Charles, LA
Public Collections
Asheville Art Museum
City of Asheville
Elon University
Paul & Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum,
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Louisiana State Museum
Louisiana Tech University
Masur Museum of Art
Piedmont International Airport
Texas Woman’s University
United States Embassy, Jamaica
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Corporate Collections
Aloft Hotel/Mckibbon Hotel Group, Asheville
Alston & Bird, New York
Amber Bay Resort, Dalian, China
Aria Resort, City Center, Las Vegas
Aviara Park Hyatt, San Diego
Bellagio, Las Vegas
Ben Carter Properties, Atlanta
Biogen Idec, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh/Durham
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Raleigh
Cato Corporation, Charlotte
City Centre/Pulliam Properties/Spake Real Estate, Asheville
Clear Choice, Tampa
Concentrics Group, Atlanta
DLA Piper, Atlanta
Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, Dallas
Endurance Reinsurance Corporation of America, Philadelphia
Fidelity Investments, Charlotte
Four Seasons, Washington DC
GE Power Systems, Atlanta
Gibraltar Private Bank and Trust, New York
Gold Strike Casino, Mississippi
Harrah’s, Lake Tahoe
Hilton, Atlanta, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego
Holder Construction, Atlanta
Latham & Watkins, New York
Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco
Marriot, San Francisco
Midwest Bank
Mission/HCA Hospital, Asheville
Mission-Pardee Hospital, Rehab & Wellness Center, Hendersonville
Mirage Resort, Las Vegas
National Federation of the Blind, Baltimore
Neiman Marcus, Atlanta, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Houston
Norwegian Cruise Line, Ltd.
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas
Park Hyatt Hotel, Washington DC
Parker, Hudson, Rainer and Dobbs, Atlanta
Peninsula Hotel, Paris
Prego, Palm Springs
Primland Resort, Virginia
Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland
Rock Resorts, Half Moon Bay, Jamaica
SAS Institute, Raleigh
St. Regis Resort, Bahamas
Star City Casino, Penthouse Suites, Sydney, Australia
Stern & Edlin Family Law, Atlanta
Sumisho, Tokyo, Japan
Sun City, Tokyo, Japan
Terminus/Cousins Properties, Atlanta
Trammell Crow Company, Twelve24, Atlanta
Treasure Island, Las Vegas
Wells Fargo, Charlotte
Western Asset Management, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Westin, Pasadena, Sarasota
Womble Carlyle, Baltimore
Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven
Galleries
Fresh Paint, Los Angeles, CA
Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Publications
Aichele, K. Porter, Line, Touch, Trace, CVNC, Sept. 5, 2014
Arceneaux, Warren, Spanish moss grew into series, Lake Charles American Press, Sept. 21, 2007
Barber, Marsha, Landscapes of the Mind, Mountain Xpress, Sept. 29, 1999
Benton, Hayley, Kotara’s exhibit is ‘Secondary’ to none, Citizen-Times, April 6, 2016
Bostic, Connie, Men Plan, Women Perceive, Mountain Xpress, March 29. 2006
Celebrating Creativity in Western North Carolina, The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design, UNCA, 2001
Endings and Beginnings, Millennial Juried Exhibition, Asheville Art Museum, 2000
Feaster, Felicia, Painter Kotara’s works range from subdued to striking, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 20, 2014
Greenberg, Blue, Big Painting, The Herald-Sun, Aug. 27, 1999
Hess, Jean, Endings and Beginnings, Art Papers, July-Aug. 2001
Hopes, David, Endings and Beginnings, Asheville Citizen-Times, Dec. 10, 2000
Hopes, David, A colorful collection, Asheville Citizen-Times, Dec. 20, 1998
Kotara, Kenn, Creating Art for Corporate Communities, Capital at Play, Oct., 2020
Lee, Kevin, Artifice, Lagniappe (Mobile, AL), May 15, 2012
Leggett, Carroll, Depth Perception, WNC Magazine, October 2012
Marquis, Jason, Illusion/Elusion, Seton Hall University, November 2007
Meek, Janiece Marie, Expressions of Inquisitivity, The art of Kenn Kotara, Rapid River Arts, Nov., 2011
Miller, Joe, Braille becomes artist’s motif, Raleigh News & Observer, March 18, 2012
Motsinger, Carol, Portfolio: Kenn Kotara, Asheville Citizen-Times, Feb. 15, 2009
New American Paintings, No. 34, Open Studio Press, 2001
O’Sullivan, Joanne, Square Roots: Kotara’s Geometric Art, Bold Life, April 2011
Strauss, R. B., Painting the Picture, Around Philly, June 15, 2001
Vitiello, Chris, Divine drawings at NCMA, Indyweek, Sept. 17, 2014
Vitiello, Chris, N.C. Artists delve deep into codes at Flanders Gallery, Indyweek, March 28, 2012
Winkler, Arlene, Kenn Kotara: Portrait, WNC Woman, June 2006
Wolf, Debra, Intense and Serene Works, The Atlanta Constitutional Journal, April 29, 2007
Committee
OpenDoors of Asheville, 2023-present
Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning, Mars Hill University, 2020-21
Assessment Committee, Mars Hill University, 2017 –2020
ArtSpace Charter School, Governing Board, 2017-18
Public Art Board, City of Asheville, 2000-03 (Chair, 2001-03), 2006 – 2011
Asheville Downtown Master Plan, Cultural Art Committee, 2009
Art Advisory Committee, Texas Woman’s University, 1994-1996
Education
Master of Fine Arts, Studio – 2D, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, 1993
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, 1990
Group Exhibitions
2023
Off the Wall, Reeves House Visual Arts Center, Woodstock, GA
COSO 2023 Biennial, VAE Raleigh, Raleigh, NC
2020
Before, During, and After, Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Faculty Biennial, Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
2019
Coined in the South, Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
Recent Acquisitions, Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC
Visions of Awareness, Rockland Center for the Arts, West Nyack, NY
Surfaces, Tryon Arts & Craft School, Tryon, NC
2018
Defining the Art of Change in the Age of Trump, The Center for Contemporary Art, Washington, DC
Faculty Biennial, Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
Spontaneous Intention, The Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, NC
Neighbors: Local work from the Collection of the Asheville Art Museum, Sotheby’s, Asheville, NC
Summer of 2018 Group Exhibition, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
Believe me: flag, ARTxchange, College Art Association Conference, Los Angeles, CA
2017
Twelve, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
Context, Pretext, Subtext: Text in Art, Art in Text, Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
Summer Group Exhibition, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
Braille works, ARTxchange, College Art Association Conference, New York, NY
2016
Points of Departure: An Exhibition Without Borders, Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI (through January 2017)
Cherry Bounce: Appalachian Art, American Politics, William King Museum of Art, Abingdon, VA (through January 2017)
Layered Tones, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
Faculty Biennial, Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
Summer Fun, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
80 x 80, Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC
Please Touch the Art, Cantor Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA
Core II, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
2015
The Writing on the Wall, The Painting Center, New York, NY
Urbania: Asheville Urban Trail, 5 Walnut Gallery, Asheville, NC
Geometric Repetition, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
Sculpture Show, The Haen Gallery, Brevard, NC
2014
Line, Touch, Trace, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC (through March 2015)
Family: Part 1, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
Foundations, Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC
Life in Motion, Artetude Gallery, Asheville, NC
Diverse Works, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
Optic Chiasms: Crossing over of Art & Science, Oglethorpe University Museum of Art,
Oglethorpe University, Atlanta, GA
Faculty Exhibition, Weizenblatt Gallery, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC
2013
Art Speak: A way with words, i.d.e.a. Museum, Mesa, AZ
Biennial: Origins in Geometry, Museum of Geometric and MADI Art, Dallas, TX
Cullowhee Mountain Arts Faculty Invitational, The Fine Arts Museum, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
Landscapes, Mary Tomás Gallery, Dallas, TX
Spring Group Show, Fresh Paint Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Breaking Ground: Innovative Craft, Handmade in America, Asheville, NC
The Edge, Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC
2012
Seasonal Color, Terminus, Atlanta, GA
Winter Show, Green Hill Center for NC Arts, Greensboro, NC
Today’s Visual Language: Southern Abstraction, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL
Waking up with van Gogh, Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory, NC
Textuality, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
High 5: 5th Anniversary Exhibition, Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC
Codework, Flanders Gallery, Raleigh, NC
Bloom, Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, FL
2011
Homage Squared, Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC
Curvature & Color: Kenn Kotara & Dale McEntire, Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, NC
Word processing, Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC
2010
Drawing Revisited, Green Hill Center for NC Arts, Greensboro, NC
All in the Approach: Abstract, Allegorical, Analytical, Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC
Looking Back: Celebrating 60 Years of Collecting at the Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC
Members Exhibit, McKinney Avenue Contemporary, Dallas, TX
52nd Chautauqua Annual Exhibition, Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, NY
The Concept of Contemporary Art, Gallery Meepyung, Seoul, Korea
A&C Art Fair, Seoul Art Gallery, Seoul, Korea
Plane & pedestal, Green Hill Center for NC Arts, Greensboro, NC
2008
Anonymous Drawings No. 9, Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien, Berlin, Germany
The Artist Project, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL
String of Pearls: 30 Years of Upstairs Art, Upstairs Artspace, Tryon, NC
Up: An exhibition of hovering, folding, inflating or wheeling sculpture, Urban Institute of Contemporary Art, Grand Rapids, MI
Summer Group Show, Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA
From East Tennessee & Beyond, Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TN
Escape to Create, Eileen West Gallery, Seaside, FL
2007
Eye Tricks, Walsh Gallery, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ (catalog)
Winter Show, Green Hill Center for NC Arts, Greensboro, NC
Systems Go: Works by Kotara, Dowell & McCarthy, Iredell Museum, Statesville, NC
2006
Art on Paper, Weatherspoon Museum, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, NC
2005
Small Works, Wesley Lake Gallery, Asbury Park, NJ
Paper One, Thomas Werner Gallery, New York, NY
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Masur Museum, Monroe, LA
2004
Selections from the Collection of Pamela M. Baker, Masur Museum, Monroe, LA
Group Exhibit, Wesley Lake Gallery, Asbury Park, NJ
Works on Paper, Sandler Hudson Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Gallery C Invitational, Gallery C, Raleigh, NC
2003
Works on Paper from the Permanent Collection, Asheville Art Museum, NC
2002
Way Cool, Koelsch Gallery, Houston, TX
Line: Drawings and More, Upstairs Gallery, Tryon, NC
North Carolina Contemporary Artists, Gallery C, Raleigh, NC
Dialogue; Hultgren & Kotara, Wingspan Gallery, Lexington, KY
2001
Introduction: Mixed Media Work, Pentimenti Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
North Carolina Invitational, Greenville Fine Arts Center, Greenville, SC
Two Person Show, Kotara & Robinson, Gallery C, Raleigh, NC
Four Person Show, Gallery Lombardi, Austin, TX
2000
Endings and Beginnings, Asheville Art Museum, Asheville, NC (catalog)
Group Show, Gallery C, Raleigh, NC
The Immediate and the Intimate, Upstairs Gallery, Tryon, NC
Annual Faculty Exhibition, University of North Carolina-Asheville, NC
Three by the river, Urthona, Asheville, NC
1999
The Ritual of the Table, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC
Millennial Nudes, The Balcony Gallery, Asheville, NC
Large Abstract Works, Gallery C, Raleigh, NC
Works On Paper, LSU Union Art Gallery, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Twenty-Seventh Annual Competition for North Carolina Artists, Fayetteville Museum of Art, NC
Twenty-First Annual Exhibition, Gaddy-Hamrick Art Gallery, Meredith College, Raleigh, NC
1998
Works on Paper, Zone One Contemporary Gallery, Asheville, NC
Pablo Picasso, Homage to a Modern Icon, Fraser Gallery, Georgetown, Washington, DC
Art on the Riverfront, River District Studio Artists, Odyssey Gallery, Asheville, NC
Culture and Agriculture ‘98, New Visions Gallery, Marshfield, WI (catalog)
LaGrange National XX Biennial, Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum, LaGrange, GA
1997
Untitled: Non-objective Art, Associated Artists Winston Salem, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC
Neo Landscape, National Competition, Chicago Southland Arts Incubator, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
10th Annual Peach Festival Fine Arts Exhibit, Ruston, LA.
Southern Drawl, Works by Southern Artists, SoHo Gallery, Pensacola, FL
1996
Miniatures International Competition, Glynn Art Association, St. Simons Island, GA
Indifference, Center for Contemporary Arts, Shreveport, LA
Time Exhibition, Visual Arts Center, Meadows Gallery, Denton, TX (catalog)
9th Annual Peach Festival Fine Arts Exhibit, Ruston, LA
Fresh Paint ‘96, Annual Exhibition, Aardvark Gallery, Garland, TX
1995
Works on Paper National Exhibition, Michelle D. Long Gallery, Coppell, TX
Discovery: rising new stars, Adkins-Hoover Gallery, Dallas, TX
Time Exhibition, Visual Arts Center, Meadows Gallery, Denton, TX (catalog)
Lectures
AIGA Asheville, Power of Design Conference, November 2023
Asheville Pecha Kucha artist presentation, Asheville, NC 2012
Art Break, Kotara & Seinberg, Asheville Art Museum, March 2011
Asheville Art Museum, More than Math, August 2014
Asheville School, November 2014
The Bascom, Highlands, NC, May 2013
Ben May Main Library, Mobile, AL, July 2013
Circle & Cycles, Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC, February 11, 2010
Art Break, Ruth Asawa: Drawing in Space, Asheville Art Museum, January 15, 2010
Artist Lunch Talk, GreenHill Center for the Arts, Greensboro, NC, May 13, 2009
Cabarrus Arts Council, Concord, NC, February 11, 2010
McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA, October, 2007
Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL, July 18, 2013
NC Artists Outreach Project, April 2013
Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum, University of Louisiana,
Lafayette, LA, November 2012
Santa Rosa Cultural Arts Association, Santa Rosa, FL, January 13, 2008
Seaside Institute, Santa Rosa, FL, January 20, 2008
University of North Carolina – Asheville, Visiting Artist, October 16, 2014
Residencies
Asheville School, NC, 2019
Escape to Create, Seaside, FL, 2008
Artist in Residence, Warren Wilson College, NC, 2007
Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT, 2002
Teaching
Assistant Professor, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC. 2016-present
Adjunct Faculty, Mars Hill University, Mars Hill, NC. 2012-2016
Faculty, A-B Tech Community College, Asheville, NC. 2000-2006
Adjunct Faculty, University of North Carolina-Asheville, Asheville, NC. 2000-2001
Blue Ridge Community College, Brevard, NC. 1999-2000
Abstract, Contemporary Art by Kenn Kotara, Asheville, NC
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