Kharis Kennedy — Biography



2003 GAP (Grants for Artist Projects), Artist Trust, Seattle, WA
2007-08 Fellowship, AIR Gallery, New York, NY

 

 Kharis Kennedy has been working as a studio artist since 1999. Although her primary background is in painting much of her work is multi-media as her chief interests are always conceptual in nature.

Most recently she and long time collaborator Rick McIntire premiered two evening length presentations of “Yamabushi + Spielerfrau,” a multi-disciplinary performance inspired by the possibilities of the random juxtaposition of their silent film “Yamabushi” with live music performed by the band “Spielerfrau.”

In fall 2007 collaborators Kennedy, McIntire, Agata Oleksiak, and Bryon Carr will present “Dr. M. Vs. Capt. R.,” a 50-minute collaborative piece that at various times incorporates dance, projected image, recorded music, and moving costuming/sculptural components. The performance’s narrative structure is modeled on an experimental science fiction novel written by McIntire that shares the same title. The novel’s narrative structure pre-determines the framework of the performance; as long as there is no deviation from this prescribed framework each collaborator can choose to work either independently or with any of the others, at any point. The elements will largely come together for the first time on the occasion of the performance, again allowing for areas of chance relationships to emerge within a framework.

Her work has been included in group and juried exhibitions in Manhattan and she has recently been awarded a 2007-2008 A.I.R. Gallery Fellowship. Her upcoming solo painting exhibition exploring the principals of mass, energy, and light as the objective physical constants that construct all objects is scheduled for November, 2007 at McLeod Residence Gallery, Seattle with an 2008 exhibition to follow at A.I.R. Gallery, Manhattan.

Kharis Kennedy (b. Harbor City, CA 1976) holds a BFA in Painting and Drawing and a BA in Art History from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. She currently lives and works in Manhattan.