About the Artist – Kevin Curran
Charleston artist Kevin Curran has graciously donated the use of his painting “Rainbow Row Reflections” for the promotion of Pairings this year where we will pair up Nashville chefs with Charleston chefs on Saturday night.
Kevin Curran has always been an artist, and his family has a rich history in art. All of his grandparents had artistic abilities, his maternal grandparents even met while attending the same art school, and his mother Carol Ann Curran is a well known professional artist. Given these surroundings Kevin was able to have plenty of fun playing with countless art media from the time he could hold a pencil in his hands.
During his high school years, Curran found serious interest in art which led him straight to the School of Visual Arts in New York City. During his college career, he was one of the few chosen out of several hundred applicants to show a piece at the NYC Art Directors Club, which was also featured in Print Magazine.
After graduating with a bachelor degree of fine arts, Curran moved to Charleston, SC. He then went into the printing field where he became an art director. During the next seven years, he won several design competitions for graphic design and illustration, while he continued with commissioned fine art paintings on the side. With demand for his work growing, Curran opened Curran’s Beach House Gallery on the Isle of Palms, in December 2000. This location was a great inspiration for his piece titled “Essence Of The Island”, which won the competition to be the official poster of the Isle Of Palms, commemorating their 50th anniversary.
Kevin then moved what became The Curran Gallery to Downtown Charleston. Shortly after the move Kevin won the purchase award for his painting commemorating the Historic Coast Guard MSO Building, which is available in prints. He was also chosen by the Historic Charleston Foundation to paint the portrait of Hannah Axelman, who was the first woman lawyer in Charleston County. This portrait displays in the library of the Charleston County Courthouse. Curran Gallery closed it’s downtown location in 2010, and Kevin and Carol Ann’s work is now available online at www.CurranGallery.com
Kevin resides in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina with his lovely wife and two little boys.