About

James Kearns is an Australian artist whose work draws on both his connection to nature and his personal life experiences. His art is a blend of intuition and emotion, with each piece evolving from either spontaneous composition or landscape beginnings. Through layering mixed media, Kearns creates vibrant, dynamic works that capture the energy and essence of his surroundings and his emotional responses to them. His approach highlights a deep engagement with both the natural world and his own lived experiences.

"My paintings are a visual documentation of my life’s experiences, explorations and influences. My art combines these fundamentals with personal attributes such as intuition and emotions. I begin a piece either with a landscape to support a composition or spontaneously which becomes more detailed as the composition starts to show itself. The process involves layering. The first layers are the most erratic and may combine a variety of mixed media. Though my brush strokes and use of elements may seem by chance, they’re often mechanical and well calculated decisions. My composition makes full use of space, appearing to be arranged in an ornamental net. I notice different characters and forms during the process, which I then nurture and allow to develop almost at their own will."

Solo Exhibitions (Not updated since 2014)
2014  Walcha Gallery Of Art, Walcha
2014  Maunsell Wickes Gallery, Sydney
2014  Cooks Hill Gallery, Newcastle
2013  Moree Plains Regional Gallery, Moree
2013  The Moree Gallery, Moree,
2013  Maunsell Wickes Gallery, Sydney
2012  Maunsell Wickes Gallery, Sydney
2012  Church St Gallery, Mudgee
2011  Blank Space Gallery, Surry Hills

Selected Group Exhibitions
2014  Norvill Art Prize Finalist
2014  Mungindi Art Prize Winner of 'Painting Prize' & 'People's Choice Award'
2014  Waverley Art Prize Finalist
2014  Kogarah Art Prize Finalist
2014  Wombat Hollow, Maunsell Wickes Gallery artists, Robertson
2014  Huntington Estate, Maunsell Wickes Gallery artists, Mudgee
2013  Wombat Hollow, Maunsell Wickes Gallery artists, Robertson
2013  Bowral Regional Art Gallery Prize
2012  Newcastle Community Art Centre Prize

Residencies
2013  Moree Plains Regional Gallery, NSW
2012  Wombat Hollow, Kangaloon, NSW

Media
Moree Champion Article July 2014 http://www.moreechampion.com.au/story/2431260/kearns-to-exhibit-new-collection-at-walcha/
Youtube link www.youtube.com/watch?v=nap0iSAO0kM

Represented Galleries
Maunsell Wickes Gallery, Sydney http://maunsellwickes.com/artists/james-kearns/
Walcha Gallery, Walcha http://walchagallery.com.au/james_kearns
Cooks Hill Gallery, Newcastle http://www.cookshillgalleries.com.au/exhibitions/2014/james-kearns

"James Kearns continues to explore more the animals than portraits with this exhibition. The paint application and the effects achieved give the artwork more energy and excitement and he understands the importance of space surrounding a focal point! He lives and loves the country, as such he expects much from it, it is all encompassing. Whilst growing up in the city his relationship with the bush is where his comfort lies. One day he takes me about 50 kms out of town to one of his favoured painting areas; defining what the country means to him! No doubt one of the few places he gains an awareness of his person! His observation of trees, river banks, colours, textures, birds, animals, sky, water and the earth itself all speak to him, driving him to paint. It's more than a recording of these experiences I see, but a raw emotion being the fire within his paintings." - Mark Widdup, Cooks Hill Galleries.