Ken Hoffman arrived in the Midwest in 1969 after accepting a faculty position at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Prior to this, he studied painting at the San Francisco Art Institute (1964-68) during the height of political and social upheaval in the United States as well as ever-shifting influences within the art world. As an Illinois artist for more than 50 years, Hoffman is perhaps best known for his humorous and colorfully painted and collaged portraits of humanlike animals. But upon closer inspection, some of the animal figures begin to break away from whimsy and draw us into more psychological narratives ranging from socio-political topics to cultural and interpersonal relationships. In many instances, both in his small and large-scale animal figures and his expressive murals, Ken may also use words, collage and found objects that draw the viewer in for a closer look. The tie that binds his many decades of production together, whether it be his animal figures or other subjects, is the power and energy created by his application of paint, line and color. With such a long history of an incredibly productive creative process, it is well deserved that Hoffman has been hailed as one of the Midwest’s premiere expressionist painters.
The exhibition is sponsored by Amy Towne and Scott Snyder. Snyder, a former curator at RAM and former student of Ken Hoffman, is the guest curator of the exhibition.
Opening Reception happens from 4:30-6:30 PM on Friday, May 19
Gallery Walk with Guest Curator, Scott Snyder, and Ken Hoffman from 5:15 to 6 PM
