The Life of Leo Kenney
Leo Kenney was an American abstract painter and a leading figure in the second generation of the Northwest School. Born in Spokane, Washington, he moved to Seattle at age six. His early interest in art involved copying images from magazines and newspapers, driven by an early love of surrealism. During his youth, Kenney experienced significant health challenges related to his small stature, including a severe case of mumps.
After attending Broadway High School in Seattle, Kenney worked at the Douglas Aircraft assembly plant in Long Beach, California. He later returned to Seattle and began exhibiting his work at Frederick & Nelson's department store in 1944. By 1945, the Seattle Art Museum had purchased his painting, The Inception of Magic.
Artistic Evolution and Career
Kenney's early work in the 1940s and '50s was characterized by dark, figurative imagery influenced by surrealism. While working as a display artist at Gump's in San Francisco, his fascination with the mandala led to a shift toward pure abstraction featuring glowing colors, geometric forms, and intricate detail. His later work explored elemental forms and studies of light.
Throughout his career, Kenney had several notable exhibitions:
- A solo exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum in 1949.
- An exhibition at the Willard Gallery in New York in 1968.
- A solo exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum in 1973.
- Leo Kenney: Geometrics at the Port Angeles Fine Art Center in 1996.
Kenney died in Seattle in 2001.
Questions & Answers
Can I explore Leo Kenney's works by keyword?
The By Keywords page of Leo Kenney groups the artist's artworks by their keywords.
Can I browse Leo Kenney's works by medium?
To find all works by Leo Kenney in a given medium, use the artist's All Medium page.
Where are Leo Kenney's artworks grouped by palette?
To find works by Leo Kenney in a specific palette, use the artist's By Palettes page.
How many artworks by Leo Kenney are available to browse?
You can browse 1 artwork by Leo Kenney on the All Artworks page.
