Ce Gallery: Art works by Keven and Lance

My name is Kevan Joseph O'Connor, and I am a visual artist in Nashville, Tennessee.

I have been pouring over visual art as long as I can remember. Raised in rural Tennessee, time immersed in nature influenced and shaped my sense of wonder. I grew up surrounded by my mother’s glass art studio – seeing observant behavior and persistent experimenting created a constant curiosity and a love for the growth of ideas.

My pieces take time. There are long breaths in between quick brushstrokes; sometimes days of decision in between changes of color. Activating and engaging with each painted environment is filled with immersive moments where balance, space, negative shape, and depth are all interacting. Visual art gives me vowels and language to stretch my observations around; it is such a deep and inner-motion that the end goal of a painting is rarely, if ever in view during the creation. It is like learning to speak; I paint, draw, make markings, and after a few days, have managed to form one word. On other pieces I feel deeply connected to, I may be clumsily putting together an entire sentence of thought. I don’t know how to instill wonder – but I hope my work causes a slow curiosity to begin.

Kevan Joseph O’Connor “A Kind of Pining”

Gouache, watercolor, and oil on canvas

48” x 60” $4300

A contemplation on missing a part of ourselves -manifesting here not as a gap in who we are but as a kind of object. Suspended internally, constantly receding and pushing forward, it occupies a "physical" space and must be loved into its place as landmark in our lives.

Kevan Joseph O’Connor “Unobserved Roots” Gouache, watercolor, oil, pastel on Canvas

48“ x 60” $4300

Much like an iceberg, our root system developed by experience is unseen. Our mental subterranean expanse is both full and accommodating to the nuance of new observation -- and it must, as we uncover life in the present tense.

Kevan Joseph O’Connor “The Nature of Escape” Gouache, pastel, pencil, watercolor, oil on canvas

36” x 36” $2000

A response to how we often push against necessary healing. An awareness that, tempered in gentleness, offers "pockets of light" as we put one foot in front of the other. * "Pockets of Light" borrowed from Lubomyr Melnyk

Kevan Joseph O’Connor “Honest Conversations" OR, "A Symphony of Mistakes (Perfect on the first try)" Oil, watercolor, gouache, pastel, pencil on canvas

36” x 60” $3600

An exploration of deep self-honesty. Weight and dissolving weight in contrast, and its convoluted process.

Kevan Joseph O’Connor “Context” Gouache, oil, watercolor, pencil on canvas

36” x 48” $3200

Inspired by readings on Mark Rothko and a desire to express a conceptual landscape. A frozen-in-time moment in our emotional geography.

Kevan Joseph O’Connor “ ‘Light Keeps On Breaking.’ ” Gouache, watercolor, pastel, pencil, oil on canvas Diptych, two canvases

24” x 48” $3400

Nothing that we process is linear. There are gaps we must leap over in the process of reconciling unreliable memory and the sacred space of Now – where decision and continued illumination occurs. I chase my tail between all these things, and even when I cover my face, light forces itself through my fingers. * Title borrowed from “breaklight” by Lucille Clifton

Kevan Joseph O’Connor “Difficult Maneuvers” In hand-crafted maple frame, watercolor, Gouache, pencil on canvas

24” x 36” $2800

Our own individual trailblazing is a necessary and vital part of walking alongside ourselves through grief.

Forging paths toward clarity and kindness offers the unique opportunity to develop a kind of gymnastic agility -- a stamina, tenacity, curiosity, or intrepidness that proves invaluable as our path inevitably meanders.

LANCE SCRUGGS

Lance Scruggs “21 Dove Salute” Acrylic, tempura, spray paint, and charcoal on canvas

60” x 96” $10,200

For this piece, I took inspiration from a group photo of my friend’s. I wanted to honor and immortalize them. Having a solid group of people around you can lift you to new heights.

I’ve bared witness to this, and I am forever grateful to have people in my life that I can call true friends.

Lance Scruggs A star in the night Acrylic, tempura, and charcoal on canvas

48” x 60” $8,000

Lance Scruggs “Triple Threat” Acrylic, tempura, , and charcoal on canvas

66” x 102” $12,000

This piece was reworked on my garage wall for a year. I went through three completely different backgrounds, and three changes to the figures themself hence the title “TRIPLE THREAT”. I felt like this piece was special, and I gave it all the attention it demanded. .

Lance Scruggs “Diamond in the Back” Acrylic, spray foam, and spray paint on canvas

36” x 48” $2,000

“Looks can be deceiving, there’s a diamond in the back seat!”

Lance Scruggs “Paid Slave” Acrylic, spray foam, and spray paint on canvas

33” x 62 1/2” $8,000

“Most of us work our whole lives for two things recognition, and finances. This was my attempt to immortalize those who came before me.”

Lance Scruggs “O.G. Huey” Acrylic, charcoal, cotton fabric, tempera on canvas

63 1/2” x 65” $10,000

“This image represents the power; The power to fight back, the willingness to stand up for what you believe in no matter the odds, the strength to persist, and the sacrifices necessary to overcome.”

Contact us for any inquiries regarding the current works: info@cegallery.co