About

 
Glen painting at the easel, 2016.

Glen painting at the easel, 2016.

Bio

Glen Kessler is an internationally collected and awarded artist as well as the founder of The Compass Atelier in Rockville, MD. Kessler has a MFA from New York Academy of Art and a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. His works have graced the cover of ‘Professional Artist Magazine’ and in ‘The Artists' Magazine’ among other publications. He has work in the public collections of King Charles III, Amazon Web Services, Ford's Theater, Capital One Bank, Dominion Bank, as well as hundreds of private collections around the world. He is a 2-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Grant for Outstanding Figurative Art, a Prince of Wales Fellow, and a Maryland State Arts Council Grant awardee. He is also a life-long teacher, having taught at Maryland Institute College of Art, George Washington University, George Mason University, and others. In 2013 he founded The Compass Atelier in Rockville, MD in order to teach a cohesive curriculum of artistic study of his own design. The school and its unique curriculum are proving to be a game-changer taking students, many of whom had little to no prior experience, to a professional practice in just 3 years of part-time study. Recent graduates have gone on to earn top prizes, regularly sell their work, and gain gallery representation.


Artist Statement

Glen Kessler is an artist who is passionate about craftsmanship and conceptual depth. In a career that spans over 20 years, he has painted many subjects. In 2010, Kessler developed a unique series of works that push the limits of reality: CircuitScapes.

In his CircuitScape series, Kessler explores in oil paint the similarities between computer circuitry and the urban landscape. The visual similarities are uncanny at what Kessler calls 'street level,' revealing highways, buildings, valleys and oceans. But it is the metaphorical connections between these two worlds that he finds most compelling. As Western culture evolves through its digital adolescence, the boundaries of right and wrong, good and evil, faith and reason are being rewritten. Kessler uses edgy compositions, a bold color palette, and his trademark bokeh (photo-informed blur), to push viewers to edge of hope and uncertainty that defines this brave new world.


Resume

Education

MFA, Painting  New York Academy of Art  summa cum laude, 2005

BFA, Painting  Maryland Institute College of Art  summa cum laude, 1998

Yale at Norfolk Summer School of Art, 1997

 

Awards

1st Place Invitational Category  “Paint the Town Art Show”  Kensington Armory  Kensington, MD, 2018

Third Place - "5th Annual South-Atlantic Juried Exhibition"  Montpelier Center for the Arts  Montpelier, VA, 2018  Juror: Kristen Peyton, Curator of the Flippo Gallery at Randolph-Macon College

Third Place - "National Juried Art Exhibition" Academy Center of the Arts  Lynchburg, VA, 2018

Third Place - “Small Works Show”  Gallery North  Edmonds, WA, 2018

First Place, Oils - "Rockville Art League Winter Show"  Glenview Mansion  Rockville, MD, 2017, Juror: Dr Lorena Bradford, Head of Accessible Programs at the National Gallery of Art

Second Place - “Small Works Show”  Gallery North  Edmonds, WA, 2017

Honorable Mention – “Art As Politics”  Touchstone Gallery Washington, DC, 2016, Juror: Jayme McLellan, Civilian Art Project

Winner of the 1st Annual Invitational Category  “Paint the Town Art Show”  Kensington Armory  Kensington, MD, 2015

Artist of the Month – August  TheArtList.com, 2015

Finalist – Abstract/Experimental Category  “The Artist’s Magazine 32nd Annual Art Competition”, 2015

Montgomery County Grant to Individual Artist, 2015

Finalist – Abstract/Experimental Category  “The Artist’s Magazine 27th Annual Art Competition”, 2014

Semi-finalist – Bethesda Painting Awards  Bethesda, MD, 2014

Honorable Mention – “Regional Juried Exhibition”  Hill Center Galleries  Washington, DC, 2014, Juror: Phillip Kennicott, chief Art and Architecture Critic of The Washington Post

Honorable Mention – “Remade/Recycled” Washington ArtWorks Gallery  Rockville, MD, 2014

Award of Merit – “Mid-Atlantic Art Exhibition”  d’Art Center  Norfolk, VA, 2014

Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award in Visual Arts: Painting, 2013

Best In Show, “Paint the Town Art Show 2013”  Kensington Armory  Kensington, MD, 2013

Second Place – “Regional Juried Exhibition”  Hill Center Galleries  Washington DC, 2013, Juror: Jack Rassmussen, Director and Curator of the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center

Third Prize - “Will’s Creek Survey”  Saville Gallery  Cumberland, MD, 2013, Juror: Lauren Schell Dickens, assistant curator of contemporary art at the Corcoran Gallery of Art

First Place – Abstract/Experimental Category  “The Artist’s Magazine 27th Annual Art Competition”, 2012

First Place – Paintings, “National Juried Exhibition”  Lancaster County Art Association  Strasburg, PA, 2012

Best In Show, “15th Annual Celebration of the Arts”  Montpelier Center for Arts and Education, 2012

Best In Show, “Paint the Town Art Show 2012”  Kensington Armory  Kensington, MD, 2012

Prince of Wales Fellowship for travel to Balleroy, France, 2004

Top Scholarship New York Academy of Art, 2003

Elizabeth Greenshields Grant, 1998 & 2000

Numerous Best in Show Awards  Maryland Federation of Art, 1999-2003

Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship for study at Yale University Summer School, 1997

 

Solo Exhibitions

“CircuitScapes” Artists & Makers Studios Rockville, MD, 2018

“CircuitScapes” New Masters Art Gallery  Rockville, MD, 2017

“CircuitScapes” Hillyer Art Space  Washington, DC, 2015

“CircuitScapes” Popcorn Gallery @ Glen Echo Park  Glen Echo, MD, 2014

Fisher Gallery @ NVCC  Alexandria, VA, 2014

“A Modern Perspective”  Blackrock Center for the Arts  Germantown, MD, 2013

"The Modern World"  Hill Center Galleries  Washington, DC, 2013

“The Modern World”  Montpelier Center for the Arts  Montpelier, VA, 2013

“Command-Shift-3”  Yellow Barn Gallery  Glen Echo, MD, 2012

“Seasons Change”  The Arts Barn  Kentlands, MD, 2009

“The Inherent Distortion of Perception”  Yellow Barn Gallery  Glen Echo, MD, 2008

“Maryland Landscapes”  Carroll County Art Council  Westminster, MD, 2001

“Figures and Other Works”  Maryland Federation of Art City Gallery  Baltimore, MD, 2000

“Attic Space”  Plaza Artist Materials  Rockville, MD, 1999

“Landscapes”  Maryland Federation of Art Gallery on the Circle  Annapolis, MD, 1998

“Recent Landscapes”  Cafe Monet  Kensington, MD, 1996

“Recent Work”  The Yellow Barn Gallery  Glen Echo, MD, 1995

 

Group Exhibitions

“At 4(Four)”  Artists & Makers Studios  Rockville, MD, 2019 

“March Exhibition”  Priddy Library  Rockville, MD, 2019 

“Small Works Juried Show”  Gallery North  Edmonds, WA, 2019 

“Night”  Strathmore Center for the Arts  North Bethesda, MD, 2019

“Lavender Fields Forever” Artists & Makers 2  Rockville, MD, 2018

"Le Salon"  The Artist Gallery  Frederick, MD, 2018

"Old School / New Concept"  The Athenaeum Gallery  Alexandria, VA, 2018

"Myth, Fantasy, and the Human Psyche"  Open Space Gallery  Rockville, MD, 2018

“Regional Juried Exhibition”  Hill Center Galleries  Washington, DC, 2018

"5th Annual South-Atlantic Juried Exhibition"  Montpelier Center for the Arts  Montpelier, VA, 2018

"National Juried Art Exhibition" Academy Center of the Arts  Lynchburg, VA, 2018

“City Limits”  Principle Gallery  Alexandria, VA, 2018

“Small Works Juried Show”  Gallery North  Edmonds, WA, 2018

 “At 3(Three)”  Artists & Makers Studios  Rockville, MD, 2018

“Size Doesn’t Matter”  Glave Kocen Gallery  Richmond, VA, 2018

"National Juried Show"  Delaplaine Visual Arts Center  Frederick, MD, 2017

“Small Works Show”  Gallery North  Edmonds, WA, 2017

“TAG squared”  The Artists Gallery  Frederick, MD, 2017

“Local Art, Local Eats”  Principle Gallery  Alexandria, VA, 2017

“At 2(Two)”  Artists & Makers Studios  Rockville, MD, 2017

“Small Works”  New Masters Art Gallery  Rockville, MD, 2017

“Size Doesn’t Matter”  Glave Kocen Gallery  Richmond, VA, 2017

“Small Works” Principle Gallery  Alexandria VA, 2016

“Grand Opening Exhibition” New Masters Art Gallery  Rockville, MD, 2016

“Under 500” Maryland Art Place  Baltimore, MD, 2016

“35th Anniversary Exhibition” Maryland Art Place  Baltimore, MD, 2016

“Artomatic”  Potomac, VA, 2016

“Small Works”  Yellow Barn Gallery  Glen Echo, MD, 2016

“25th Annual National Exhibition”  Art Institute & Gallery  Salisbury, MD, 2016

“Art As Politics”  Touchstone Gallery  Washington, DC, 2016

“Maryland Artist Registry Juried Exhibition”  Maryland Art Place  Baltimore, MD, 2016

“Paint the Town Art Show 2015”  Kensington Armory  Kensington, MD, 2015

“9th Annual Summer Exhibition”  Flowers Gallery  New York, NY, 2015

“Regional Juried Exhibition”  Hill Center Galleries  Washington, DC, 2015

“DC Realists: The Best Realists from the DC Area” Artworks Fine Art Studio  Bethesda, MD, 2015

“Size Doesn’t Matter”  GlaveKocen Gallery  Richmond, VA, 2015

“Urban Aspect”  Principle Gallery  Alexandria VA, 2014

“Affordable Art Fair”  The Tunnel  New York, NY, 2014

“Faculty Exhibition”  MICA  Baltimore, MD, 2014

“Remade/Recycled”  Washington ArtWorks  Rockville, MD, 2014

“Regional Juried Exhibition”  Hill Center Galleries  Washington, DC, 2014

“Burst of Color”  Capitol Arts Network  Rockville, MD, 2014

“Gateway to Imagination:  A National Juried Art Competition”, Farmington Museum  Farmington, NM, 2014

“Mid-Atlantic Art Exhibition”  d’Art Center  Norfolk, VA, 2014

“24th Annual National Juried Art Exhibition”  Academy of Fine Arts, Lynchburg, VA, 2014

“24 + 24”  Waverly Street Gallery  Bethesda, MD, 2014

“Paint the Town Art Show 2013”  Kensington Armory  Kensington, MD, 2013

“#WeTweetArt”  artdc.com gallery  Hyattsville, MD, 2013

“Will’s Creek Survey”  Saville Gallery  Cumberland, MD, 2013

“AWSome Art Show”  Amazon Web Services  Herndon, VA, 2013

“MICA--Then/Now”  Kunsthalle Beacon  Beacon, NY, 2013

“Summer Exhibition 2013”  Allegra LaViola Gallery  New York, NY, 2013

“MD Art @ College Park”  The Art Gallery @ UMD  College Park, MD, 2013

“Regional Juried Exhibition”  Hill Center Galleries  Washington, DC, 2013

“Annual National Juried Art Exhibition”  Academy of Fine Arts  Lynchburg, VA, 2013

“Masur Museum of Art 50th Annual Juried Competition”  Masur Museum of Art  Monroe, LA, 2013

“Single Fare 3”  RH Gallery  New York, NY, 2013

“Life’s Impressions”  The Writer’s Center  Bethesda, MD, 2013

“Small Wonders”  MFA Gallery on the Circle  Annapolis, MD, 2012

“Paint the Town Art Show 2012”  Kensington Armory  Kensington, MD, 2012 *

“Berks Art Alliance 35th Annual Open Juried Art Exhibition” GoggleWorks Center for the Arts  Reading, PA, 2012

“XL-XS”  The Art Gallery @ UMD  College Park, MD, 2012

“2012 Summer Show”  Flowers Gallery  New York, NY, 2012

“Lancaster County Art Association National Juried Exhibition” Lancaster County Art Association  Strasburg, PA, 2012 *

“101st Annual Exhibition, Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts”  Mystic Arts Center  Mystic, CT, 2012

“Art-o-Matic”  Arlington, VA, 2012

“15th Annual Celebration of the Arts”  Montpelier Center for Arts and Education  Montpelier, VA, 2012 *

“Art-o-Matic”  Frederick, MD, 2011

“25 Emerging Artists To Watch”  Yellow Barn Gallery  Glen Echo, MD, 2011

*=Best In Show

Gallery Representation 

Artists on Market  Gaithersburg, MD, 2019-2020        

GlaveKocen Gallery  Richmond, VA, 2014-2019             

New Masters Art Gallery  Rockville, MD, 2016-2018             

Discovery Galleries  Bethesda, MD, 2008-2012            

 

Collections

HRH King Charles III

Ford’s Theatre

Capital One Bank

Dominion Bank

Amazon Web Services

The George Washington University, Trustee

Yale University, Trustee

Boston University

Maryland Institute College of Art

St. Mary’s College of Maryland

Hundred of private collections throughout US, Canada, UK, France, Israel, Australia

 

Teaching Experience

The Compass Atelier  Rockville, MD  2013-present

Capitol Arts Network/Washington ArtWorks  Rockville, MD, 2013-2015

Yellow Barn Studio  Glen Echo, MD, 2008-2015

Maryland Institute College of Art  Baltimore, MD, 2007-2014

George Mason University  Fairfax, VA, 2006-08

George Washington University  Washington, DC, 2006-07

Maryland Institute College of Art Pre-College Program  Baltimore, MD, 2001-06

Yellow Barn Studio  Glen Echo, MD, 2001

Boston University  Boston, MA, 2000-01

Maryland Institute College of Art (Teaching Assistant) Baltimore, MD, 1998

Sparrows Point High School (Artist-in-Residence)  Essex, MD, 1998

Tilghman Island Painting Workshop  Tilghman Island, MD, 1996

 

Juror Experience

“Olney Art Association Fall Exhibition“ Bohrer Park Gaithersburg, MD, 2022

“Potomac Valley Watercolorists Fall Exhibition” Brookside Gardens Wheaton, MD, 2022

“Collaboration“ Falls Church Arts Falls Church, VA, 2022

“Women’s Club of Chevy Chase Exhibition“ Chevy Chase, MD, 2022

“Paint The Town”  Montgomery Art Association  Kensington, MD, 2019 

“Hot/Cold” Gallery Underground  Crystal City, VA, 2018 

“Winter Show” Potomac Valley Watercolorists  Fairfax, VA, 2017 

Resident Artist Review Panel  Torpedo Factory  Alexandria, VA, 2017

“Cabin Fever”  Art League of Germantown  Kentlands, MD, 2017

“Summer Show” Capitol Hill Art League  Washington, DC, 2016

“40th Annual Member’s Show”  Olney Art Association  Olney, MD, 2014

“Paint The Town”  Montgomery Art Association  Kensington, MD, 2014

“Women’s Club of Potomac Open Exhibition”  Potomac, MD, 2014

“Cityscapes”  Leading Artists Gallery  online, 2013

“Frederick Festival of the Arts” Frederick Arts Council Frederick, MD, 2012

“Art Competition Color & Light”  Leading Artists Gallery  online, 2012

“Barnstormer’s Paint Out”  Frederick County Landmarks Foundation  Frederick, MD, 2010

“Annual Members Exhibition”  Rockville Art League  Rockville, MD, 2010

“Annual Private School Exhibition”  Landon School  Bethesda, MD, 2009

“8th Annual Montgomery County High School Show”  Yellow Barn Gallery  Glen Echo, MD, 2008

“Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association Annual Show”  Kentlands Mansion  Gaithersburg, MD, 2008

 

Lectures/Presentations

“How to Start a Landscape Painting“ Laurel Art Guild Laurel, MD, 2022

“Color Theory Made Simple“ Loudon Sketch Club Loudon, VA, 2022

“How to Start a Landscape Painting“ Kensington Labor Day Art Show Kensington, MD, 2022

“Member Critiques“ Olney Art Association Olney, MD, 2022

“Pet Portrait Painting”  McLean Society of Artists  McLean, VA, 2018 

 “Creative Marketing for the Emerging Artist”  Art League of Germantown  Germantown, MD, 2017 

“Simple Steps for Success”  Rockville Art League   Rockville, MD, 2017  

“How To See And Mix Color With Certainty”  Plaza Artist Materials  Rockville, MD, 2017 

“How To See And Mix Color With Certainty”  Art League of Germantown  Germantown, MD, 2017 

“Marketing Strategies for Emerging Artists”  Washington Calligrapher’s Guild, 2016 

“How Art Has Been Taught Through The Ages” Gaithersburg Fine Art Association  Montgomery Village, MD, 2016 

“How To See And Mix Color With Certainty”  Laurel Art Guild  Laurel, MD, 2016

“How To See And Mix Color With Certainty”  Montgomery Art Association  Rockville, MD, 2016

“How To See And Mix Color With Certainty”  Gaithersburg Fine Art Association  Montgomery Village, MD, 2015

“Marketing Strategies for Emerging Artists”  Montgomery Art Association  Rockville, MD, 2015

“Old Master Techniques”  Olney Art Association  Olney, MD, 2015

“How Jurors Think”  Montgomery Art Association  Rockville, MD, 2014

“Marketing Strategies for Emerging Artists”  Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association  Montgomery Village, MD, 2014

“Meaning in Art”  Rockville Art League  Rockville, MD, 2013

“Photography in the Service of Painting”  Art League of Germantown  Germantown, MD, 2013

“Major Café”  Maryland Institute College of Art, 2013

“Photography in the Service of Painting”  Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association  Montgomery Village, MD, 2012

“Glen Kessler Art and Teaching”  Rockville High School  Rockville, MD, 2012

“Major Café” Maryland Institute College of Art, 2011

“Color Theory”  Gaithersburg Fine Arts Association  Montgomery Village, MD, 2010

 

Press

“In the Galleries” The Washington Post by Mark Jenkins https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/in-the-galleries-small-universes-and-a-large-cosmos-at-greater-reston-arts-center/2018/08/31/, 2018

“These Cityscapes Hold A Secret” BoredPanda.com by Carolyn Edlund http://www.boredpanda.com/these-cityscapes-hold-a-secret/, 2017

“Artworks” on Maryland Public Television, 2017

“Artomatic: The Review” by Lenny Campello http://dcartnews.blogspot.com/2016/11/artomatic-2016-review.html, 2016

“East City Artnotes: Art as Politics at Touchstone Gallery” by Eric Hope http://www.eastcityart.com/reviews/east-city-artnotes-art-politics-touchstone-gallery/, 2016

“The Beholder’s Eye”  Professional Artist Magazine  by Lis Zadravec, 2016

“Artist Interview: Glen Kessler”  Lori Anne Boocks: Abstract Paintings, Interviews, and More  by Lori Anne Boocks & Glen Kessler, 2015

Professional Artist Magazine, June/July issue (cover art & article)  ‘Marketing Plan: Artist Case Study’  by Jodi Walsh, 2014

Artsyshark.com  ‘What’s the Best Way to Learn Art’  by Glen Kessler  http://www.artsyshark.com/2014/04/17/whats-the-best-way-to-learn-art/, 2014

Artists Speak  ‘The Academy Program: What if You Never Had to Take an Art Class Again?’  by Bora Mici  http://arttistsspeak.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-academy-program-what-if-you-never.html, 2014

Artsyshark.com  ‘Featured Artist Glen Kessler’  by Carolyn Edlund  http://www.artsyshark.com/2013/08/02/featured-artist-glen-kessler/, 2013

Ergo  ‘Re-Wired: An Interview with Artist Glen Kessler’  by Ariel Hsu, 2013

Artsyshark.com  ‘Create Your Own Art Book’  by Carolyn Edlund  http://www.artsyshark.com/2013/04/05/art-book/, 2013

Bethesda Magazine  ‘Capitol Arts Network’, 2013

The Artist’s Magazine  ‘29th Annual Arts Competition Winners’ www.artistsmagazine.com, 2012

‘Art-o-matic 2012: The Review!!’  by Lenny Campello http://dcartnews.blogspot.com/2012/06/artomatic-2012-review.html, 2012

Bethesda Patch  ‘Creating Collaborative Artwork At Yellow Barn’ by Bora Mici http://bethesda.patch.com/articles/coming-together-again, 2012

Artists Speak   Interview with Bora Mici  http://arttistsspeak.blogspot.com/2012/03/glen-kessler.html, 2012

Potomac Gazette  ‘Painting the Town’ by Topher Forhecz http://www.gazette.net/article/20110831/ENTERTAINMENT/708319928/1153/1153/painting-  the-town&template=gazette, 2011

The Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery Official Weblog  http://yellowbarnstudio.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html, 2011

Bethesda Patch  ‘Yellow Barn Embraces Environmental Stewardship’ by Bora Mici http://bethesda.patch.com/articles/yellow-barn-embraces-environmental- stewardship, 2011

Potomac Gazette  ‘Yellow Barn Studio in Glen Echo introduces students to a world of color’ by Cody Calamaio http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/01262011/chevnew205151_32547.php, 2011

Bethesda Patch  ‘Artwork Comes to Life at Yellow Barn’ by Bora Mici http://bethesda.patch.com/articles/artwork-comes-to-life-at-yellow-barn, 2011

Bethesda Magazine  ‘Creative Juices’ by Steve Roberts http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Magazine/July-August- 2008/Creative-Juices/, 2008

Carroll County Gazette  Review of exhibition at Carroll County Art Council, 2001

Maryland Institute College of Art Catalog   Feature article and artwork reproduced, 1999

The Baltimore Sun   ‘Licensed reproduction At the BMA, students learn from the masters by  reproducing their work - stroke by stroke’ by Glenn McNatt http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-07-12/features/1998193005_1_painting- copying-museum-of-art, 1998