Butler to Display Works of KISS Singer, Guitarist Paul Stanley
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Butler Institute of American Art is about to get a big kiss.
An exhibit of paintings by Paul Stanley, singer and guitarist for iconic rock band KISS, will open at the museum on Aug. 13 and run through Oct. 8.
Admission is free.
The exhibit, “Paul Stanley: The Other Side,” will feature 16 recent pieces by Stanley, including acrylic paintings and mixed media originals.
“Paul Stanley is a figurative artist whose depictions of the human form are empowered by an explosive use of color,” said Louis Zona, executive director of the museum. “But his paintings move beyond the figure and into imaginary worlds where his KISS persona floats through stars, guitars, flags, hearts and other background imagery, enhancing the many approaches to the figure seen in the bulk of the work.”
Zona called Stanley “an artist who encourages both order and dissonance in fields of color and form. His work can be viewed as a celebration of our visual universe.”
The Butler is known for its many classic works of art but has long had a penchant for displaying works by stars of music and Hollywood. Past exhibits have included John Mellencamp, Ronnie Wood, Tony Bennett, Jessica Lange and Kim Novak.
Stanley said he is honored to have his work shown in a museum as prestigious as The Butler.
“It takes my breath away,” he said. “This is a terrific museum. And the first that really championed American artists. So it will be a group of some of my favorite and best pieces.”
Stanley designed and created the iconic KISS emblem, which remains one of the most widely recognized rock logos.
His artistic and visual input has been – and continues to be – seen in his designs of KISS album covers, performance stages and apparel.
Stanley has always had a passion for painting, and he channels it by creating portraits and abstracts that are emotionally charged compositions.
Stanley’s works have been praised by art professionals and acquired by fans, celebrities and art collectors worldwide. They are coveted by collectors as evidenced by sales in the tens of millions of dollars. Additionally, the artist has been commissioned to create numerous large works.
Stanley will attend a private reception at the museum on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. Reservations are required; the cost is $1,000 for two guests, who will also receive one commemorative artwork signed by Stanley. Contact The Butler for details by email only at [email protected].
The reception is a major fundraiser that will help fund The Butler’s accessibility efforts.
Anyone interested in acquiring one of the artworks that will be displayed at the museum can contact Melissa Dragich at Wentworth Gallery at [email protected].
Pictured at top: Paul Stanley stands next to one of his works.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
