KERRY HALLAM Kerry Hallam was born and raised in the northern England industrial town of Chesterfield. He showed early artistic talent and won a six-year college scholarship to London University. After a formal art education under British master painters Leslie Cole, Patrick Heron and Hans Tisdale, he served in the military in Hong Kong and Malaya. In 1973 he moved to the United States and settled in New England. He established his first studio in Boston and in 1981 opened a studio on Nantucket Island. "The most intensely awakening experience of my life was the contrast between the bleak grayness of my childhood in a northern England mining town and the overwhelming beauty and richness of my first visit to the Mediterranean coast and southern France." Kerry Hallam's artwork seems to stand in defiance to his childhood experience of a black and white existence. His canvases explode with color, his venues seem drenched in idyllic beauty. His work seems somehow to transport us to that exact instant, that precise moment when the sun's light rests over the tiny coastal town, brilliantly illuminating the shiny cobalt blue sea. Hallam is most noted for his power to evoke emotion, opulence of light and distinctive color harmonies. He translates the moment into the magical, inviting us to be revitalized by the world's simple pleasures. Inspired by St. Tropez and the French and Italian Riviera, Hallam returns frequently to renew his spirit. "My vision continually directs me to serene and majestic panoramas," he says. "I paint some paintings to communicate how I feel about a subject. Others I paint to find out how I feel." Kerry Hallam is also influenced by the great cities of the world. In his paintings he captures the essence of the place, whether it be bright, muted, hyper or relaxed. His work is also inspired by the desire for leisure, a yearning to be outdoors, to be engaged in the competition of games, whether it be on the golf course, tennis court, polo field, racetrack or a sailing regatta. Hallam finds nautical charts fascinating. His interest in the sea and sailing led to his incorporation of painting and mixed media. Street maps, nautical charts and newsprint have been used to add flavor and authenticity to his work. He continues to explore the realm of collage and its endless possibilities. One of the beautiful truths of an artist's life is that the best paintings are appreciated immediately. These special paintings are testimony to how deeply the artist has achieved the depth and clarity of his inner sensations. This is the challenge that encourages the artist to continue. For Kerry Hallam, his next painting will always be the best. New River Gallery 914 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954-524-2100