SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- Paul Thiebaud Gallery is presenting Ray Kleinlein: Recent Paintings. On view are eleven oil paintings of Kleinlein’s recent body of work where he explores the visual possibilities of everyday objects, arranging and stacking them into compositions that balance color, geometry, wit, and orchestrated tension. The exhibition will be on view through January 9, 2027.
At first glance, it is color that beckons the viewer to these vibrantly paintings. Vivid hues, contrasting tones, and the tactile forms of book covers create an immediate visual attraction. Yet, upon closer examination, the paintings reveal a more deliberate and intriguing sensibility. Each book has been positioned, tilted, stacked, or balanced, transforming otherwise ordinary objects into carefully choreographed arrangements.
In talking about his approach to painting, Kleinlein explains, “The formal language I employ is a synthesis of traditional and contemporary aesthetics, particularly those associated with geometric abstraction and minimalism.”
Augmenting the stacks of books, is an artfully crumbled Blue and Pink (Striped Shirt), a signature subject matter for the artist, and in Orange Pillow, Kleinlein pays homage to Op Art pioneer Victor Vasarely. And, a predominately red and white painting featuring Popcorn Bags adds a note of humor that underscores Kleinlein’s playful sensibility in the most familiar of subjects.
Ray Kleinlein earned his BA in Art from the Columbus College of Art and Design in and an MFA in Painting and Art History from Ohio University at Athens, OH. Kleinlein holds the position of Assistant Professor of Fine Arts at Hampton-Sydney College, in Sydney, VA. His works have been exhibited across the United States and can be found in the collections of the Canton Museum of Art, OH; Hunter Museum of Art, Chattanooga, TN; Southern Ohio Museum, Portsmouth; Zanesville Museum of Art, OH: Davidson College, Davidson, NC, and numerous private collections. This is Ray Kleinlein’s third solo exhibition with Paul Thiebaud Gallery.
