Press release for "Keith Puccinelli: The Wondercommon"

              Keith relished and thrived in his position as an only child for three years until the birth of his only sibling, Jessica, after which he began an unjustifiable life-long sulk. While becoming somewhat withdrawn, Keith passed a good deal of time exploring his media of choice: crayon and pencil, drawing a variety of subject matter ranging from the pornographic to war scenes to hot rods. He was not particularly well thought of in his elementary school art sessions. As a budding member of the culturati, he rose to a level of mediocrity in his competence as a horn player. Despite a growing love for music (especially rock, soul, blues and jazz), Keith's significant act of rebellion (after getting deservedly cold-cocked by the lead trumpeter), rejected band and orchestra and took to art class at Willow Glen Sr. High School. Influenced by an older cousin, David Bottini, who became a sculptor of some renown, Keith entered and graduated with Great Distinction with a Baccalaureus Artium degree in Art/Sculpture from San José State University in 1973. He worked part-time in the kitchen and as bartender in a local music club. Declining the offer to join his father's electrical contracting business, Keith accompanied his girlfriend to Santa Barbara where she was attending university. Keith became employed in a t-shirt screen-printing factory where he would learn rudimentary skills in illustration and graphic art from the "floral and chrome beer can" school. After a few years he quit and bicycled the Hawaiian Islands for a few months. Fumbling around for his identity in the world, Keith revisited the restaurant business, ending up in management and advertising over a five year period. Still searching, he pounded Santa Barbara pavement for work as a graphic designer. Unable to find employment, he opened Puccinelli Design in 1983. That same year, he also had the good fortune to meet his wife, Fran. His highly successful design firm would be awarded national and international recognition for design, illustration and advertising over the next 20 years. Still searching, Keith gradually curtailed all design work and adopted his current pursuit as full-time artist. He would also successfully battle tongue cancer. Over the past 30 years, Keith has exhibited works on paper and multiple-media installations in the Southern California area, and his work is included in many private collections.
The exhibition is curated by Meg Linton, Director of the Ben Maltz Gallery at Otis College of Art and Design. The forthcoming catalogue features an essay by Nancy Doll, Director of the Weatherspoon Art Museum at University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and highlights work from the 1990s to present. It is being released in June 2008.
L-R: Babeboyman, 2007; War Heads, 2007; Boarboy, 2006
Top: Face Plant, 2007