Denis
Kempe brings to his photography a discriminating eye. His current
project involves the role of architecture within the lives of the
people it affects. Coming from a culture (native American, Hopi)
that is displaced not only physically, but psychologically within
its own borders, he brings insight to what might otherwise be unseen.
Denis
recently exhibited a retrospective of his work. Mr. Kempe's photographs
are in the permanent collection of the Portland Art Museum and in
other collections. He has shown work in many different venues throughout
the US, and in 1994, his art was chosen by acclaimed photographer
Joel-Peter Witkin to appear in that year's Northwest Annual at Seattle's
Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA). Mr. Kempe is also a co-director
of Collusion Unlimited Gallery, one of Seattle's premier sponsors
of contemporary art exhibitions. In addition, he has co-produced,
along with Catherine Peila and former Benham co-owner Lisa Sharamitaro,
the project "No Apologies Necessary... Spirits Unbroken,"
a compendium of Eastern European perspectives drawing from a diverse
range of artistic and social disciplines. Mr. Kempe is well-known
for his black and white photographs of urban architectural details
and deserted city streets. Culled from his extensive national and
international travels, his art is a testimony to the duration of
visible forms that are sponsored by darkness. For his show at Benham,
he and his Leica camera travelled to the American Southwest in order
to better document the subtle psychological intricacies of the region
through its architecture. This work is a welcome respite from the
R. C. Gorman pastiches and garish postcard photographs that pander
to tourists.
The Benham Gallery has available a limited number of prints by Denis
Kempe. We believe art is best sold on a one-to-one basis and will
generally provide any reasonable information about the arist, including
the artist's resume, background, and the availability of books and
prints for sale. The Benham Gallery accepts most major payment types
and transactions can be carried out by e-mail, phone, mail, or better
yet - by stopping by in person so we can familiarize you with the
the work. The pictures on this site are no match compared to seeing
the real thing in person.
