Artists Statement
Creative influence is fostered in human experience. As artists inspired by the natural world, we are accustomed to reinterpreting organic patterns and colors within formal contemporary sculpture. Traditionally in our work, repurposed metals are joined with recycled canvas and paint to create bold abstract sculptures where waterways, shorelines and colors of the Eastern seaboard take center stage. More recently, we are creating work as a response to environmental stressors such as water rise, toxic pollution and over consumption which have pushed the planet to an unprecedented state of fragility. In each work, there is an emphasis on material and form that while aesthetically pleasing, we hope also conveys a message of human responsibility toward the environment. We hope our work creates a moment of pause, reflection and ultimately an awareness of relationship with each other and the planet.
Biography
KX2 is a collaboration combining the strengths of artists and sisters Ruth Avra and Dana Kleinman who create mathematically inspired sculpture merging metal and painting. From a distance the work is bold and geometric, yet up close the viewer is engaged by textural hand-sanded metal and multi-layered paintings. By exploring geometry, symmetry and connection, their work aims to create a moment of pause, inviting the viewer to escape the stresses of the day and find a space to achieve balance. In their most recent work, themes related to environmental issues are presented with the hope to raise an awareness of the fragility of our natural ecosystems. Since establishing their artistic collaboration in 2007, KX2’s work has been featured in notable galleries and museums around the world. Importantly, the work was leveraged to the international art scene with an invitation to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Biennale at the National Art Museum of China. Their work can be found in numerous private, corporate and public art collections throughout North America. Avra and Kleinman currently reside with their individual families in Florida.
Curriculum Vitae
DANA LYNN KLEINMAN :: EDUCATION
2002 University of New Mexico, MFA in Painting. Albuquerque, NM.
1997 Carnegie Mellon University, BFA in Painting, Drawing, Printmaking with an additional major in interdisciplinary History and Anthropology. Pittsburgh, PA. Phi Beta Kappa, Carnegie Tradition Scholar.
RUTH AVRA KLEINMAN :: EDUCATION
2001 University of Wisconsin BS in Art, Art Metal Concentration. Madison, WI.
1999 Syracuse University, Scholarship Grant for semester abroad in Florence, Italy
Museum, Art Center and Grant Sponsored Exhibitions
2025 Spaaces Art Center, solo exhibition, Sarasota, FL (forthcoming)
2024 Rosemary Duffy Larson Gallery, solo exhibition, Broward College, FL (forthcoming)
Coral Springs Art Museum, group exhibition, Coral Springs, FL
Ft. Lauderdale Airport, “Hydra”, sponsored by the Broward County Cultural Division 2023 Pompano Beach Cultural Center, "Boil Notice", sponsored by Broward County Cultural Division/Broward Cultural Council, Solo Exhibition. Pompano Beach, FL.
Cornell Art Museum, “World of Water”, Delray Beach, FL
Studio 18 Art Complex, "Grounded", curated by Juliana Forero, 2 person show.
Pembroke Pikes, FL
2022 Contemporary Art Center New Orleans, “H2O”, New Orleans, LA
Arts Warehouse, “Waves”, Delray Beach, FL
2021 Art and Culture Center, “Exposed”, Hollywood, FL
2020 Coral Springs Museum of Art, group show. Coral Springs, FL 2019 The Frank, "New Industry". Pembroke Pines, FL
Coral Springs Museum of Art, group show. Coral Springs, FL
Art and Culture Center, “Exposed”, Hollywood FL
CICA Museum, “Artist Statement, South Korea
2018 Monmouth Art Museum, group show, Lincroft, NJ
Art and Culture Center, “Mottos”. Hollywood FL
2017 Islip Art Museum, "Duality", East Islip, NY
2016 Museum of the Golden Ratio, Featured Artist March 2016
2011 Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Art Center, "Supersize: Bigger is Better?”, Solomons Island, MD
2010 Albuquerque Museum of Art, "Miniatures and More”, Albuquerque, NM
2009 Las Cruces Museum of Art, solo show "Crescendo", Las Cruces, NM
2008 National Museum of Art, Beijing Biennale, Beijing, China
Art Center/South Florida, solo show, “K x 2 =ART”, Miami Beach, FL.
Fort Collins Museum of Art, Rocky Mountain Biennial, Fort Collins, CO
Select Gallery Exhibitions
2024 Ferrara Showman Gallery, 28th Annual No Dead Artists group exhibition, New Orleans, LA
KW Contemporary, “Overboard” group exhibition, Kennebunk, ME
2023 Laura Rathe Fine Art, “Decade” group show, Houston, TX
2022 KW Contemporary, group show. Kennebunkport, ME
Amy Simon Fine Art, group show. Westport, CT
Broward Cultural Division, "Obstruction Immersion" solo installation, Kimpton Goodland Fort Lauderdale, FL
2021 City of Miami Beach, “No Vacancy”, solo show, Miami Beach, FL Whistler Contemporary, group show, Whistler, BC.
KW Contemporary, group show “Summertide”, Kennebunk, ME
2020 KW Contemporary, group show “All that Glitters”, Kennebunk, ME
Turner Carroll Gallery, online exhibition: “Create Art for Earth”, curated by Judy Chicago
Turner Carroll Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Lyons Weir Gallery, online exhibition: “Chrysalistasis”, curated by James Austin Murray & Lyons Weir Gallery, New York, NY
2019 Marseilles, South Beach, FL curated by YNOBE DNA
Artserve, “Textured” DBA, Ft Lauderdale, FL
Whitewall Contemporary, "WATER", Delray Beach, FL
2018 Whitewall Contemporary, "W H I T E", Delray Beach, FL
2017 Lanoue Gallery. December Group Show. Boston, MA
Sandra Phillips Gallery, "De/Constructing Landscape", Denver, CO
Exhibit 208, "Tondo", Albuquerque, NM
2016 Amy Simon Fine Art, Two person show, Westport, CT
Lanoue Gallery. Boston, MA
Downtown Contemporary, “Heavy Metal”. Albuquerque, NM
2015 Lanoue Gallery, Two person show, Boston, MA
Nan Miller Gallery, “Abstract Views”, Rochester, NY
Exhibit 208, “s(and): an introduction”, Albuquerque, NM
2014 Exhibit / 208, solo show "Full Circle”, Albuquerque, NM
El Monte Sagrado, solo show “Land Lines”, Taos, NM
Sandra Phillips Gallery, “ID Series”, Denver, CO
Dacia Gallery, “Black and White”, New York, NY
Exhibit/208 , “Wrap It Up”, Albuquerque, NM
2013 Oeno Gallery, “6 Impossible Things” Outdoor Sculpture Garden, Ontario, Canada
Dacia Gallery/European House of Arts, Mazieres-de-Touraine, France; Erfurt, Germany; Sibiu, Romania
Galerija Dora, “Spiral Channel--To Earth with Love” curated by Vlado Franjevic, Slovenia
2012 Lanoue Fine Art, Two person show with Dirk De Bruycker. Boston, MA
2011 Dacia Gallery, solo show "Vanishing Point", New York, NY
Munoz Waxman Gallery, "18 Days", Santa Fe, NM
SCA Contemporary, "The Sublime, The Beautiful, and The Picturesque",
Albuquerque, NM
2010 Causey Contemporary, solo show "VECTOR|vector", Brooklyn, NY
Jonathan Abrams MD Art Gallery "Intersections", UNM Hospital, New Mexico
BWAC Gallery, "Wide Open", curated by Nicholas Baume, Ann Strauss & Mark Hughes, New York, NY
2009 Aakriti Art Gallery, "Gen Next IV" Kolkata, India
Lurie-Kavachnina Gallery, "Art of Deception", Miami, FL
2008 Agora Gallery, 23rd Chelsea International Fine Art Exhibition, curated by Manon Slome, New
York, NY
Awards and Committees
Exhibiting Artist, Ft. Lauderdale Airport, Installation Art Exhibition January - July 2024, Broward County Cultural Division
Artist Innovation Grant, Broward County Cultural Division, 2022-2023
Artist Grant, No Vacancy, City of Miami Beach, 2021
Individual Artist Grant, Broward County Cultural Division, 2021-22
City of Ocala, FL Public Art Roster 2020
New Mexico Arts, Art in Public Places Acclaimed Artist Series Pool 2020
Duane Hanson Award, Broward Art, FL 2020
Public Art
New Mexico Arts, Art in Public Places, Acclaimed Artist Series, placement at New Mexico State
University, Carlsbad, NM 2012
Bernalillo County Public Art Collection, MRCOG Building 2017
New Mexico Arts, Art in Public places, placement at Luna College, Las Vegas, NM 2020