Manufactured in Philadelphia: Paintings by Chuck Connelly

Manufactured in Philadelphia: Paintings by Chuck Connelly

Manufactured in Philadelphia: Paintings by Chuck Connelly
Artist's Reception: December 1, 6-9pm
Exhibit: December 1-22

Chuck Connelly received international acclaim for his work almost immediately after his graduation from the Tyler School of Art in 1977. After refining his work for two years in Germany, Connelly became one of the top contemporary artists of his time, exhibiting at the leading galleries in New York, including the Annina Nosei, Serra di Felice, and Lennon, Weinberg, as well as in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Rome, and Dusseldorf, West Germany.

His work was highly coveted and was sold into public and private collections across the country and internationally, Connelly himself becoming an icon of the 80’s and 90’s art scene. His rapid rise to fame was followed by a dramatic and controversial downfall, which was documented in the HBO feature “Art of Failure: Chuck Connelly Not For Sale” in 2008. Since then, Chuck has adamantly continued painting, producing volumes of cutting-edge works against the odds. Connelly’s vivid life story and dramatic career are matched only by the pure brilliance of his work as an artist. Regardless of his success or failure in the public eye, Connelly has persistently produced remarkable paintings of the quality that earned him such avid acclaim in the early part of his career.

The Chestnut Hill Gallery had the honor of exhibiting Connelly’s works in 2011, in a quartet show including the works of Harry Anderson, Ted Victoria, and Hal Hirshorn, curated by Connelly himself. This month, Connelly will return for a solo show featuring a selection of his works from his personal collection. Bold, dramatic, and emotionally charged, Connelly’s selection exposes the artist’s defined talent and experience, as well as his unfailingly innovative style as he moves forward in his painting career.