New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Walter Wickiser Gallery Inc. presents a Virtual Exhibition: "Thomas Kelly: Schoolyard Forever"

originally published: 11/22/2022

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Walter Wickiser Gallery Inc. presents a virtual exhibition, "Thomas Kelly: Schoolyard Forever," now through January 17th, 2023. The exhibition is virtual on Artsy.net with images and details available in a private viewing room. Artsy is the premier art gallery website with millions of views per day. 

Thomas Kelly is an award winning, New Jersey based painter. Widely collected, his work has a signature style, which has its roots in Expressionism. His colorful, narrative, acrylic paintings on canvas often create a dialogue with the viewer. His deceptively simplistic paintings are both critically acclaimed and very approachable by everyday viewers. More than 350 of Kelly’s original paintings have been collected. Kelly has exhibited in New Jersey, New York City, and Philadelphia. His work is in private and public collections in the US, Europe and Asia. 

“My paintings are of common scenes, every day occurrences in which people struggle to establish and maintain relationships," said Thomas Kelly. "It is these universal emotions and situations which most interest me.”

"I am not and do not wish to be the artist with the best technical skill, recreating realism that wows the masses," continued Kelly. "I wish to be the one who connects well with the way people feel. I wish to have the viewer say about themselves, when they see my art, 'This is about me, this is about my life.' This is how I wish to connect. The universal feelings that we all have is what I am trying to portray. 

In this exhibition, Thomas Kelly captures the childlike innocence and sunny atmosphere of our former playground days where we learned many of life’s most important skills.




Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



Kelly said this about "Schoolyard Forever".

"All I learned was first learned on the schoolyard. Respect, time management, personal relationship management, physical fitness, discipline, teamwork, problem solving and having goals were all learned in the schoolyard.

"The lunch period freedom, the recess with organized games and the lingering after school were all times in the schoolyard with a slightly different feel.

"I grew up a block from our elementary school and we used the schoolyard as an extension of our own yard. It was like our own yard but without our parents's oversight. After school and on weekends the kids ran the schoolyard. We played basketball, baseball, football and soccer. We threw frisbees, climbed the baseball backstops and climbed on the school roof to reclaim balls that we may have kicked up there during recess or lunch time."

"We played basketball under the streetlamp until way after dark. We rode our bikes on the painted tarmac and smoked cigarettes like adults. We were too cool for school but not after hours, that was our time.

"Schoolyards today may have safer equipment and lead to less broken arms, but the idea is still there. The idea of letting kids burn off energy and take a break from the mental requirements of the work of studying, is still valid. We copy these ideas as adults in various ways. We take strolls on work breaks, get in a run at lunch or play in organized leagues of genteel sport after work. We need these breaks, socializing and physical activity. We needed it then as we do now, and should have Schoolyard Forever." -- Thomas Kelly

Click here to view the exhibition.





Reach New Jersey's largest arts & entertainment audience, click here for info on how to advertise at NJ Stage



The Walter Wickiser Gallery was established in 1992 in Soho, New York. 

Wickiser's career as an art dealer formally began in 1990 in Soho, NY, when he became the director of the first gallery in the United States showing artists from mainland China. Today the focus has shifted to midrange and Post War international artists. 

FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


The

The West Point Concert Band

Tuesday, April 01, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960




 

Tuesday

Tuesday Night Record Club - Led Zeppelin, IV

Tuesday, April 01, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Monmouth University - The Great Hall
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764



MAC

MAC Jazz Orchestra

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 @ 3:30pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ 07748



Crossroads

Crossroads Theatre Company presents Genesis Festival of New Plays: Silma Sierra Berrada's PEARLS

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 @ 7:00pm
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center (NBPAC)
11 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08901



NYC

NYC Musical Marathon & Jack Dallas presents Repertoire 2025

Wednesday, April 02, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Man Cave
, Northern Valley, NJ 07624



EVENT PREVIEWS

RVCC

RVCC presents Second Part of Annual Student Art Exhibition

(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- Raritan Valley Community College's Arts & Design department is presenting the annual RVCC Student Art Exhibition in two installments again this year. Part II of the exhibition will be on display from April 7 to May 2, 2025 in the Art Gallery at the College's Branchburg campus.



Monmouth

Monmouth University's Center for the Arts presents the 'Art on Screen' series

(WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ) -- Monmouth University's Center for the Arts presents the Art on Screen series which takes you into the Dawn of Impressionism and includes spotlights on Georgia O'Keeffe and Michelangelo.  Films are shown in the Pollak Theatre.



Ocean

Ocean County Library Toms River Branch to Showcase Art by Michael Sileo in April

(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The Ocean County Library Toms River Branch is pleased to feature the boldly expressive art of Michael Sileo in the Second Floor Gallery throughout the month of April 2025.



Carroll

Carroll Gallery presents "Tattoos: Modern Expression & Ancient Art"

(CAPE MAY, NJ) -- A new, visually engaging Carroll Gallery exhibit at the Emlen Physick Estate opening Friday, April 11, on display through Sunday, November 2, 2025, explores the art, history and self-expression of tattooing. Learn about the range of expression and history of this ancient art form in this Carroll Gallery Exhibit on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate (1048 Washington Street) in Cape May.



ArtSpace

ArtSpace presents "New Botanicals"

(RED BANK, NJ) -- Monmouth Arts' ArtSpace presents "New Botanicals" from April 4 through May 20, 2025. This exhibition includes work by Jeannine Rothenberg, Pat Butynski, and composite images by Kevin Hinkle and Ellen Martin.