PETE KELLY

Cheshire, England

Pete Kelly's photographic work might make you think he stepped out from behind an old camera of the early 1900s. In fact, he is a contemporary photographer who works with mainly with digital equipment. Yep. The new stuff.

Kelly uses a wide variety of tools, including his computer, to achieve what he wants out of each shot. The results are timeless, almost hypnotic stills. Looking at his black and white work, it's easy to feel you're a part of some important moment in time. Just what moment in time I'm not too sure, but that's unimportant.

Describing his art to Aspen International Art, Kelly says, "My approach to photography is very similar to a painter, I want to interpret more than is actually there, the image capture is just the beginning of the creative process for me."

Most of his photographs are issued in editions of 25 (signed and unsigned) and are output onto cotton canvas with ultrachrome pigmented inks. Kelly has been featured in many galleries throughout the world and his work is a part of the permanent collection of Dow & Jones, Sloan-Kettering, and the Williamsburg Art and Historical Society (Brooklyn). Although black and white photos are shown here, he also shoots in color.

WEBSITE: Unavailable
INQUIRIES: Collection photography is much easier to find than original paintings. Look online or at galleries such as Robin Rice Gallery. Prices for an individual photo range from $400 and go up to several thousand.
All images Copyright Pete Kelly.

AMY RUPPEL

Portland, OR

Amy Ruppel was suggested by GALLER|b visitor Holly of holly's plate (she just happens to also be my significant other). Ruppel's work is gaining quite a bit of noteriety through the blogosphere, and has also shown in galleries concentrated in the Pacific northwest U.S.

Her work has a gentle and inviting tone, and a lot of it is on a small scale, which works well with the subject matter and colors. If you dig a little deeper, you'll find out that Ruppel is a very talented graphic designer. Her background in commercial design can be seen in some of her pieces where sketches creep into the overall painting (I like this style), but her work doesn't give any hints that she's having to force herself from her graphic design background.

She uses an interesting assortment of materials, including paper, oils, wood (panel and box), and a beeswax/resin mixture. Find a nice small space and her work will brighten it, for sure.

WEBSITE: www.amyruppel.com
INQUIRIES: Start with her website. Her original work ranges from $100 to $450 and beyond. Interestingly, she also offers up new work periodically on her site, which she makes for available for sale. The next one is September 13th at 10am (PT).
All images Copyright Amy Ruppel.

SHAG [Josh Agle]

Los Angeles, USA

Over the past six months, it seems there are a mass of websites, articles, and magazines that can't get enough of the work of American contemporary artist Shag.

Shag, whose name is a combination of two letters from Agle's first and last names, is a highly popular and wildly creative artist who's style is often duplicated by others. A cross between lounge-lizard and tiki tacky, Shag's work is decadence at its finest, always integrating scenes of people enjoying life.

Although his original paintings are out of the scope of this site from a cost perspective, signed and numbered serigraphs of Shag's paintings are available for even a couple hundred dollars.

His subject matter, colors, and the comic/fun feel of everything he creates blends to leave behind unforgettable works that are easily recognizable and appreciated. You'll want to fill up a high-ball, put on some Dean Martin and start throwing around retro-hipster lingo.

WEBSITE: www.shag.com
INQUIRIES: Several websites on the Internet, but try Shagmart or Modern Gallery Palm Springs. Signed & numbered serigraphs starting around $200+.
All images Copyright SHAG.