Earl McGrath Gallery

Tobias Keene

Tobias Keene's new works continue to explore, through the immediacy of color, texture and form, a quality of lost innocence. By using negative space as part of the composition, he has created a unique exploration of displacement. His use of long shadows signify the passage of time; The image of children at play, dogs chasing balls, a man on a trapeze are some what metaphorical. As he states: "We are all old dogs chasing balls." Tobias was born in Stratford-upon -Avon, Warwickshire, England in 1963. His father is renowned painter, Arthur Keene, whose work is exhibited extensively throughout Europe, including the distinguished Royal Portrait Society. His grandfather was WWII painter painting under the name "Van Art". Tobias studied under both his father and grandfather at age five, becoming proficient in figure drawing, watercolors and oil paint. Keene has exhibited at the Earl McGrath Gallery Los Angeles since 2003 as well as Christies, Chait Gallery and the Bergamot Station. He also exhibits in his hometown of Stratford at the Andrew Clayton Gallery. Tobias currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA with his wife Robbi Chong.