James Keller

Jim Keller

I find the concept of creating objects with fair curves and flowing lines relaxing and rewarding. I am always looking for unique pieces of wood that will allow me to develop an interesting sculptural form.

My goal as an artist is to combine the circular form, fair curves and drama with the character and natural beauty of a piece of wood to create a sculpture highlighting natural edges and negative space to create an individual unique sculpture. I am trying to create a fluid form, with implied motion combining the pure circular form with interesting and diverging plains and varying arches.

Wood is a very tactile medium. It has been with great joy when I have watched somebody caress a piece of my sculpture. This expression of connection between my art and the admiring public is a source of great personal joy for me.

After seeing the work of Jesus Moroles a stone sculpture I was inspired to investigate the wheel form. My first wheel was entitled “Evolution of the Wheel”. Little did I know at the time that this would be the start of a series in which I have explored the wheel form.

Juried Art Shows:
2010 Craft Texas 2010, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas – Jurors; Gail M. Brown, Independent curator of contemporary craft from Philadelphia, PA; Cindy Hickok, fiber artist from Houston, Texas; and Paula Owen, president of the Southwest School of Arts and Crafts in San Antonio, Texas.
2009 Craft Forms 2009, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA - juror: Bruce W. Pepich, Executive Director and Curator of Collections at Racine Art Museum.
Turned to the Future: a Fresh Look at Wood Art, American Association of Woodturners, Special Exhibitions Committee, Grovewood Gallery, Asheville, NC – jurors Anne Carlano, Director of Craft Design, The Mint Museum: Arthur Mason, collector: Gretchen Keyworth, Director of the Fuller Craft Museum: Brent Skidmore, Director of the University of North Carolina, Asheville Craft Campus and Sherry Masters, Grovewood Gallery.
Texas Turned, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, TX – juror: Gwynne Rukenbrod, Curator of Fine Craft HCCC.
2006 Step Up To The Plate, The American Association of Woodturners, Louisville Slugger Museum, Lousiville, KY – jurors: Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, Merryll Saylam and Alan Stirt
2005 reTurn to the Land of Oz, AWW, The American Association of Woodturners, Overland KS –jurors: Craig Nutt and Binh Pho
Innovative Perspectives in Turning, The Lynn Tendler Bignell Gallery, Brookfield Craft Center, Brookfield, Conn – juror: Albert LeCoff, Executive Director, Wood Turning Center
Innovative Perspectives in Turning, Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, PA – juror: Albert LeCoff, Executive Director, Wood Turning Center
2004 Tree of Life Exhibit, Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, PA – juror: Albert LeCoff, Executive Director, Wood Turning Center
500 Wood Bowls, Lark Book – Jurors: Ray Leier and Jan Peters of del Mano Gallery and Kevin Wallace
Craft Houston 2004: Texas, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas – Juror: Lawrence Riner, Curator Whitney Museum of American Craft.
2003 Craft Houston 2003: National, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas – Juror: Lloyd Herman founding Director Renwick Gallery.
2001 National-Open Exhibit, Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, California – Juror Jen Grey, Professor CSULB
1998 Open Show. Art League of Houston, Texas, – Bert Long 1998 R=Texas Artist of the Year
Third Biennial AAW Chapters Exhibition, Akron Ohio
93rd National-Open Competition, Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, California – Juror Anne B. Ayres Curator, Director of Exhibitions Otis College of Art and Design
Materials + Form 5, Art League of Houston, Texas–Jurors Mary Rogers &Roger Detheridge
1997 The Art of Craft, Long Beach Arts, Long Beach, California – Juror Adrian Saxe, Professor of Art UCLA

Permanent Collections:
Mobile Museum of Art
American Association of Woodturners Gallery

Corporate Collections:
The Clayton Fund, Inc. Houston, Texas
The Cullen Foundation, Houston, Texas
Duke Energy, Houston, Texas
Houston Endowment, Inc. Houston, Texas
Texaco U.S.A., Houston, Texas

Current Gallery Representation:
Austin Street Gallery, Rockport, TX
American Art Company. Tacoma,WA
Asher Gallery, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas
Brookwood Gallery, Brookshire, TX
Carlyn Galerie, Dallas, Texas
Haven Gallery, Austin, Texas
Mary Martin Gallery, Charleston, North Carolina
Museum Store, Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, PA

James Keller
Fox Fire Studios
www.jimkeller-foxfire.com