Intro
Kirk Fanelly lives and works in his hometown of Charlotte, NC. He received a BA in Visual Art from Brown University, splitting his undergraduate years between Brown and neighboring RISD, where he completed coursework in the painting, printmaking and illustration departments.
Fanelly's work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across the Eastern United States, including the Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College, the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University, Rutledge Gallery at Winthrop University (Rock Hill, SC), Artspace (Richmond, VA), the Weatherspoon Art Museum (Greensboro, NC), and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (Winston-Salem, NC). His 2026 solo exhibition at the Mint Museum (Charlotte, NC) presented a selection of work from the past twenty-five years. His work is held in public and private collections internationally.
Grants and fellowships include a North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship, a Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation Fellowship, and a Yale Summer School of Music & Art at Norfolk Fellowship.
Statement
The emphasis and materials in my work have shifted over the last decade: what were once supporting roles—nature and cut paper have stepped into the lead. In my earlier narrative paintings, I was predominantly interested in the awkwardness and vulnerability of people in relation to our psychogeography—architectural environments, suburban mores and myths, sexual dynamics, and the disquieting narratives implied behind closed doors.
In recent years, my work has found more meaning in materials and in contemplation of the broader natural world, rather than in encounters with human absurdity—which is in no short supply these days. My current approach feels increasingly expansive and calming. The cut paper process has me rediscovering my connection to science and nature, and finding joy through deep observation.
CV
EDUCATION
- 1999
- Brown University, BA in Visual Art, May 1999
Rhode Island School of Design
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
- 2026
- The Mint Museum, Charlotte, NC, “Mid: Selected Works 2000-2026”
- 2022
- Hidell Brooks, Charlotte, NC, “Recent Works”
- 2020
- Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont, NC, “Botanicals”
- 2018
- Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, GA, “Botanicals”
- 2009
- Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, “Paintings and Recent Works on Paper”
- 2008
- Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC
- 2007
- Emory & Henry College, VA, “Bedfellows”
- 2005
- Davidson College, Davidson, NC, “Domestic Disturbances”
- 2003
- Rocky Mount Arts Center, Rocky Mount, NC, “Residence I and Other Recent Work”
- 2002
- Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC, “Art from Architecture”
- 2001
- Carolina Union Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC, “Images from Home”
- 1999
- List Art Center, Brown University, Providence, RI “Diptychs” Thesis Exhibit
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
- 2026
- Weatherspoon Art Museum, Greensboro NC. “Art on Paper”
- 2024
- Blowing Rock Art Museum, NC. “Pulp & Bind”
- 2017
- Greenhill Center for North Carolina Art, Greensboro, NC. “Observational Abstraction”
- 2016
- Lee Hansley Gallery, NC. “My Favorite Things”
- 2012
- Turchin Center, Boone, NC. “2011 NCAC Artist Fellowship Recipients”
- 2009
- Jack the Pelican Presents, Brooklyn, NY. “American Dream”
- 2009
- Jack the Pelican Presents, Brooklyn, NY. “Old School”
- 2007
- Artspace, Richmond, VA. “Radius250”
- 2007
- SECCA, Winston Salem, NC. “Homegrown Southeast 2007”
- 2006
- Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC. “New & Hot North Carolina”
- 2004
- McColl Center, Charlotte, NC. “Summer Affiliate Exhibition”
- 2004
- CityArts, Wichita, KS. “There’s Always Room for One More”
- 2004
- Whitecouch, Brooklyn, NY. “Unreal Tournament”
- 2003
- Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC. “The Perfect Painting”
- 2002
- Whitecouch, Brooklyn, NY. “5 Degrees”
- 1998
- Yale University, Norfolk, CT. “Yale-Norfolk Exhibition”
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- 2026
- Page Leggett, "Preserving a Momement in Time" Inspired, Spring issue, illus.
- 2020
- "Intervista all’artista Kirk Fanelly" thegreensideofpink.com, Sep 28th. Interview, illus.
- 2017
- “Who To Meet in Charlotte Visual Arts” The Charlotte Observer, May 2.
- 2017
- “Carolina Art Crush: Kirk Fanelly” Happeningsclt.com, April 25th. Interview, illus.
- 2012
- Lowdown Magazine, Vol. 80. Interview, illus.
- 2007
- Scales, Shatesha. “It Might be Good to Eat the Babies” The Johnsonian, Sept. 12, illus.
- 2005
- Maschal, Richard. "Fanelly Paintings Speak with an Edgy, Sexy Voice", The Charlotte Observer, Sept. 16
- 2002
- Greenberg, Blue. "Architectural Forms Key to 4 Artists" Durham Herald-Sun, Aug. 18. illus.
- 2002
- Halperen, Max. "Peeking into Hidden Places" Raleigh News & Observer, Aug. 16. illus.
GRANTS & AWARDS
- 2010
- North Carolina Arts Council Fellowship Grant
- 1998
- Yale Summer School of Music & Art at Norfolk Fellowship
- 1997
- Brown University Research at Brown (RAB) Grant
- 1993
- Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation Fellowship
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Dave Eggers; San Francisco, CA
April Gornik and Eric Fischl; North Haven, NY
Jane Rosenblum; New York,NY
Adam Sheffer; New York, NY
Helene Winer; New York, NY
Robert Gardner, LewAllen Contemporary; Santa Fe, NM
Rocky Mount Art Center; Rocky Mount, NC
Brown University; Providence, RI
Davidson College; Davidson, NC
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