Kevin West: Forever Young
January 20, 2024 - June 2, 2024
Shook Gallery
Kevin Nance West is a professional fine artist, art entrepreneur, and art instructor based in Indianapolis. He specializes in contemporary abstract paintings and portrait art. Kevin is not just an artist; he is also the founder and CEO of West Innovations, a company specializing in the development of custom “paint by number” technology. This technology is used by over 175 sip and paint studios and companies across the United States, including Storie Brush, Wine and Canvas, and Canvas and Cocktails.
Despite facing challenges, including overcoming cancer, Kevin’s passion for his craft remains unwavering. His art, characterized by larger-than-life pieces, features colorful lines that express various emotions on canvas. Kevin has explored various mediums and concepts over his two-decade career as a professional artist, including mixed media and broken records. His abstract portrait art, created with acrylics, honors not only the human figure but also the intricacies of the face, showcasing its multifaceted expressions of various emotions.
In 2020, Kevin was selected by Indy10 Black Lives Matter and other community groups to contribute to the design and implementation of the Black Lives Matter mural along Indiana Avenue, a street with significant historical importance to the Black community in Indianapolis. Kevin has received numerous recognitions for his work, including being named “Young Artist of the Year” at the 500 Art Festival and being featured in Visionary Artist Magazine and Active Life Magazine. He was also recognized as a “Top 50 Artists of the Decade.” Additionally, he has served as a judge for the ISU StartUp competition which focuses on innovation.
Extraordinary Wings
2023. Oil | Oil Pastel. The wings serve as a representation of freedom, expressing the idea that even in our youth, we have the capability to embrace freedom.
The Forever Young Exhibition at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette comprises a collection of vivid and lively oil and acrylic paintings capturing young African American individuals in their daily lives. This series draws inspiration from my childhood experiences as a Boy’s and Girl’s Club kid in the inner city.
- Kevin West
Featured Work
-
![]()
Alone With God
2022. Oil | Oil Pastel.
The artist is expressing the solace and peace found in solitude with God.
-
![]()
My Fathers Hand
2023. Acrylic | Oil Pastel.
This artwork depicts the profound love between a child and their father. Portraying the father as the family’s foundation, the piece emphasizes his significant influence on the child’s upbringing. The father’s display of care and emotion creates a sense of security for the child.
-
![]()
See What I See
2023. Acrylic | Oil Pastel. This artwork symbolizes the challenges of life. Viewing it through the lens of others and understanding their experiences highlights our capacity for sympathy and empathy.
-
![]()
King In Me
2023. Oil | Oil Pastel.
The artist illustrates the notion that young men embody a regal essence, utilizing purple and gold to symbolize royalty.
