Kenneth Le Riche
  • Home
  • Paintings
  • Drawings
  • Prints
  • Figurative
  • Archive
  • About
  • Home
  • Paintings
  • Drawings
  • Prints
  • Figurative
  • Archive
  • About

Biography & Artist Statement

BIOGRAPHY:

Born in 1963, prize-winning artist Kenneth Le Riche describes himself as a late bloomer. Having first earned himself a degree in engineering (1986), he worked in a variety of different jobs in different countries. He only started painting in earnest in his late 20’s and didn’t go to art school until he turned 30, when he attended the Foundation Course at Leith School of Art (1994). This paved his way to study at Edinburgh College of Art where he received a BA Hons. (1998) and where he won an Andrew Grant Scholarship. He was also awarded an Erasmus grant for a four-month exchange to the Villa Arson Centre d’Art Contemporain, France.
 
He was awarded a scholarship to pursue further studies at the New York Academy of Art where he graduated with a Master of Fine Arts with distinction (2003).
 
Le Riche regularly has work selected for the Royal Scottish Academy, the Society of Scottish Artists and Visual Arts Scotland Open Exhibitions. He has been a council member for Visual Arts Scotland and is currently a professional member. In 2009, he won the Visual Arts Scotland Purchase Prize.
 
Le Riche has worked for several arts organisations including the Leith School of Art, Edinburgh College of Art, and The New York Academy of Art. He has exhibited widely both in the UK and overseas and has been artist-in-residence at the Leith School Of Art, UK; Amagansett Applied Arts, NY; Odd Nerdrum Studios, Norway; and the International Art Symposium, Jordan. His work is held in numerous collections around the world. Le Riche has his studio practice in Forres, Northern Scotland where he lives with his wife and two children.
 
Kenneth Le Riche, 2021



ART STATEMENT:
 
I make things up in my paintings. Taking inspiration from a variety of interests including anthropology, geometry and psychology, I create uncanny dystopian imagery that reflects a belief in the power of art to provoke enquiry. My work explores space and personal symbols challenging perceptions by presenting the ordinary in an unfamiliar way. There are contradictions at play: humanity and the artificial; the banal and the extraordinary. Some elements are cold and hard-edged, others are humane and tender. Figures or animals find themselves in an uncompromising and sterile arena. Ladders, steps, arches, holes and other motifs punctuate the picture plane. There is stillness but it is deceptive, implying a precarious and fragile existence. Transformation awaits but everything stays stuck in its rigid place. The use of perspective invokes the passing of time without action.
 
The news media, traditional assumptions and social constructs raise questions about our ability to judge our place in the everyday experience. My work endeavours to address the problem of how to represent the uncertain and precarious nature of our reality.
 
I am a painter who works in oils and mixed media. I also make unique works on paper through drawing or using drypoint, monotype and other print media.
 
Kenneth Le Riche, 2021





Artist CV

EXHIBITIONS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
​

2020
Upstairs Gallery, Inverness, UK

2018
Orchard Road Studios, Forres, Moray, UK

2017   
The Moray Art Centre, Findhorn, Moray, UK

2011   
Patriot Hall Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

2010  
Axolotl Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

2008  
soloNOVA Art Festival, Union Square, New York City, USA
The Kunst Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
The Leith School of Art, Edinburgh, UK

2006   
Estudi Obra Vista, La Raval, Barcelona, Spain

2005   
Estudi Obra Vista, La Raval, Barcelona, Spain

2004   
Centre Stage Gallery, Chelsea, New York, USA

2000   
The Reynolds Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

1999    
The Leith School of Art, Edinburgh, UK
SELECTED MIXED EXHIBITIONS
2021
"Flow" VAS Members Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK

2020

Royal Scottish Academy, Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh, UK
Aberdeen Artists Society, Aberdeen, UK
​

2019
Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, Edinburgh, UK

Members' Exhibition, An Talla Solais, Ullapool, UK
Society of Scottish Artists, Edinburgh, UK

2018
RSW Open Exhibition, The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK
RSA Exhibition, The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh,UK
Oseana Kunst & Kultursenter, Bergen, Norway

2017   
​Sutton Gallery, Edinburgh, UK
RSA Exhibition, The Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK
The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, RSA, Edinburgh, UK

2016   
Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK
Moray Art Centre,Findhorn, Moray, UK

2015   
The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, RSA, Edinburgh, UK
ART4X, Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, UK

2014   
The Leith School of Art, Edinburgh, UK

2013   
Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK

2012   
Scottish Society of Artists, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK

2011    
New Hampshire Institute of Art, USA
Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, UK

2010   
Visual Arts Scotland, Edinburgh, UK

2009   
Invited Guest Artist, Scottish Society of Architect Artists, Smith Museum, Stirling.
Visual Arts Scotland, Edinburgh, UK

2008   
Remal Arts Centre, Amman, Jordan
Visual Arts Scotland, Edinburgh, UK

2007   
Visual Arts Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
Imagination Art Gallery, Edinburgh, UK

2006   
La Exposici'n Realismos - travelling exhibition, Spain
Cuixart Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
Stricoff Fine Art, Chelsea, New York, USA

2005   
INBAL, Tel Aviv, Israel.

2004   
Stricoff Fine Art, Chelsea, New York, USA

2003   
Artists' Night 7!, New York, USA

2002   
Artspace, New York Sotheby's, New York

2001   
New York Academy of Art Student Exhibition, New York

2000   
Rene Lizard Gallery, New York 'Two Years On', The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh

1999   
Visual Arts Scotland, RSA, Edinburgh
Scottish Society of Artists, RSA, Edinburgh
New Graduates', Stenton Gallery, East Lothian,
UK 'New Graduates', The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
ART RESIDENCIES
2008   
International Art Symposium, Amman, Jordan

2005   
Assistant to Odd Nerdrum

2003 -4   
Amagansett Applied Arts Artist in Residence, New York, USA

1998 - 1999   
The Leith School of Art Artist in Residence, Edinburgh, UK

1997   
Villa Arson, Ecole Pilote Internationale d'Art, Nice, France
SELECTED COMISSIONS
1999 - On Going
A number of drawing and painting commissions over the years including two by Mrs Eileen Gugenheim in New York,  Lady Wemyss, Edinburgh, two by Sir Angus and Lady Grossart,  Edinburgh and a series of paintings commissioned by The African American Museum of Harlem in New York, USA
AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS
2009   
Purchase Art Prize, Visual Arts Scotland

2000 - 2003   
The New York Academy of Art Fellowship, USA

2000   
Shortlisted for the Eric Fischl Scholarship

1997   
Erasmus Grant to attend Villa Arson, France

1995   
Awarded Andrew Grant Scholarship
SELECTED EMPLOYMENT RECORD
2014 - On Going    
Self-employed Artist/Tutor/Consultant - developing my own studio practice and teaching practice, mentoring individual artists.
​

2006 - 2014    
Figurative Painting Course Leader and Drawing Course Leader, The Leith school of Art, Edinburgh, UK.

2006 - 2012    
Drawing Tutor, Design School, Edinburgh College of Art, UK.

2005 - 2006
Painting in Spain.

2005
Painting in Israel and Jordan.

2004 - 2005
Art Teacher, The Edinburgh Academy, UK

2003 - 2004
Art Tutor, Amagansett Applied Arts, New York, USA

2003 - 2004
Art Tutor, Riverdale Community Art Centre, New York
Art Teacher, East Harlem School, New York

2003
Artist/Muralist, Richard Smith Studios, New York, USA

2000 - 2003
The New York Academy of Art Fellowship, New York, USA


1994 - 2000
Art Tutor/Technician, The Leith School of Art, Edinburgh

1992 - 2000
Stained Glass Artist (incl. apprenticeship), The Edinburgh Stained Glass House, Edinburgh, UK

1986 - 1992

Mechanical Engineer, Norwegian Contractors, Norway
Ski Instructor, Andorra

TEFL teacher, Spain, Japan, UK
Jackaroo, Australia
​Gardener, Canada



SELECTED EDUCATION
2000 - 2003
MFA Painting (cum laude), New York Academy of Art, USA

1994 - 1998
BA Honours Painting, Edinburgh College of Art, UK

1993 - 1994
Foundation Course, Leith School of Art, Edinburgh, UK

1981 - 1986
BSc Honours Mechanical Engineering, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK

    Contact Kenneth

Submit
All material © Kenneth Le Riche 2019
For more information email Kenneth Le Riche
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.