Harman Projects is pleased to present Fresh Eyes, a two-person exhibition by artist duo KEFE, aka Kelly Tunstall and Ferris Plock. This will be the artists' first solo exhibition with Harman Projects.
Kelly Tunstall and Ferris Plock are a husband-and-wife duo based in San Francisco. They are firmly rooted in the Northern California new contemporary movement and their work (both individually and jointly) emphasizes their whimsical world-building.
Though they share studio space and materials, Tunstall and Plock's styles and content exhibit strong individuality. Tunstall's painterly depictions of sirens and plant life delicately contrast with Plock's anthropomorphic figures adorned in complex fractal surfaces. These two distinct painting styles seen in their individual work, come together harmoniously when the pair work together as KeFe.
The artists' natural curiosity of the world around them and their archiving of it serve as the foundation and basis of their work . Documenting encounters with cats and kids, skateboards and seascapes, Tunstall and Plock transform the mundane into the extraordinary. According to the artists, "It's a show about trust: in our bodies, our cities, our eyes, in order to better observe coincidences and broadcast them to a higher relevance."
In Garf Island pictured above, a circular mass of florals seems to undulate in the presence of Tunstall's playful nymphs alongside Plock's multi-colored Garfield-inspired cat heads. Both artists' contributions, informed by their shared ecosystem, result in a body of work that can only be that of KeFe.
Through a variety of mediums including acrylic, watercolor, spray paint, ink, gold or silver leaf and collage, Kelly Tunstall and Ferris Plock create highly detailed works, often character-based paintings, on wood panels. Their exhibits can also include installation, video, or sculptural components.