“That I can create a world, from my head, where people would actually want to go, makes me feel like I’ve achieved something.”

I currently live and work in Brooklyn Heights, New York City, NY. You’ll find me at my desk and easel painting pretty much every day.

I am represented by two major galleries. The Simie Maryles Gallery in Provincetown, MA, on Cape Cod, in the USA. And, The Kunstbehandlung Gallery in Munich, Germany. Both galleries carry my work, samples of which can also be found here on my portfolio page: http://www.kurtwalters.com/portfolio .

My art career started quite simply because I was able to read from a very early age and thus began checking out art books from the library around the age of four or five. I would prefer to immerse myself in the images and paintings that I saw rather than play with my friends. I quickly became obsessed with the early Renaissance Masters and started to copy Raphael’s Three Graces and other works of that era.

I received my formal training at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California, now based in San Francisco and called CCA. My interests didn’t necessarily fit in with the then-popular style of dark, aggressive, political art. It was there, by contrast, that I embraced my passion for a more classical style of painting. 

My work is known for its whimsical perhaps illustrative style. As the viewer explores beyond my subjects, sees the attention to detail, and my obsession with the Old Masters like Van Eyck, Ingres—even Maxfield Parrish—and their methods of painting in numerous layers and glazes, they realize they’re looking at work that is still quite serious.

I’ve coined the term “Tongue-in-Cheek Classicism” to best describe my work. A favorite compliment of my work, which I’ve now heard a few times is: “I want to be there!” A reaction, based on, perhaps, the harmony they see, the colors I choose, or just the general happiness of the figures I paint.

The fact that I can create a world, from my head, where people would actually want to go, makes me feel I’ve achieved something indeed.

Additionally, one of my passions is the Christmas season. My mother was from the Bavarian part of Germany, and that culture was very vibrant in our household even in suburban America. I continue to be fascinated with what that time of year has meant over the centuries. 

I’ve designed and created an elegant and appealing collection of Christmas items based on folkloric and cultural characters that bestow gifts during this time of year. It’s been a labor of love, and I invite you to take a look at my Gift Bearers®, as I am very proud of them. The collection now includes ceramic figurines, ornaments, linens and coasters. Check it out! http://www.kurtwalters.com/shop

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or comments. I am always available if you send me a quick note though the contact page: http://www.kurtwalters.com/contact

—Kurt Walters