How does the turmoil of transition lead us to new ways of perceiving the world and ourselves? My work is a kind of emotional journalism, an attempt to portray what life feels like, without attempting answers. This is the challenge that propels me forward. Resolving creative questions are ongoing and elusive, and the process is the ultimate discovery.
My work is usually without direct reference. After I have resolved a piece I may recognize the figure depicted is myself, or the painted landforms have lodged in my mind from repeated observation and experience over many years. My best work feels like myself as if the shadow fits the body. As I get older, the need to correct my visual mistakes or awkwardness becomes less important. What is imperitive is that the work is honest to myself and my interpretation.
"Danley's consistent focus is on movement from the literal to the realm of reflection and imagination. This creative motion often manifests itself as a moment of change, transformation or encounter, The work is organized around architectural shapes that help formally organize the transformational experience.... the beckoning to be both submerged and enlightened, suspended and moved beyond, always rendered with the utmost skill in form, value and color, is an invitation that is irresistible and rewarding beyond measure."
(Review of Danley's participation in the show Zigzag, Gallery 114, 2021. Review by Ellen Keck Stauder)
Kay’s work is shown extensively in juried and international exhibits, and it is part of collections in the United States, Canada and Germany. A selected painting was exhibited by the US State Department and hung in the US Embassy in Thailand. Kay currently exhibits her work in Portland, Oregon. Her work can be viewed at www.kaydanley.com. as well as on Facebook and by appointment at her studio at N.W. Marine Artworks in Portland, Oregon.
Experiences:
Publications:
Selected Exhibits:
Upcoming:
Collections:
Representation:
My work is usually without direct reference. After I have resolved a piece I may recognize the figure depicted is myself, or the painted landforms have lodged in my mind from repeated observation and experience over many years. My best work feels like myself as if the shadow fits the body. As I get older, the need to correct my visual mistakes or awkwardness becomes less important. What is imperitive is that the work is honest to myself and my interpretation.
"Danley's consistent focus is on movement from the literal to the realm of reflection and imagination. This creative motion often manifests itself as a moment of change, transformation or encounter, The work is organized around architectural shapes that help formally organize the transformational experience.... the beckoning to be both submerged and enlightened, suspended and moved beyond, always rendered with the utmost skill in form, value and color, is an invitation that is irresistible and rewarding beyond measure."
(Review of Danley's participation in the show Zigzag, Gallery 114, 2021. Review by Ellen Keck Stauder)
Kay’s work is shown extensively in juried and international exhibits, and it is part of collections in the United States, Canada and Germany. A selected painting was exhibited by the US State Department and hung in the US Embassy in Thailand. Kay currently exhibits her work in Portland, Oregon. Her work can be viewed at www.kaydanley.com. as well as on Facebook and by appointment at her studio at N.W. Marine Artworks in Portland, Oregon.
Experiences:
- Painting selected by the U.S. State Department for the United States Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand. 1998-2002 (Artists in Embassies Program)
- Art in the Community: Beaverton Arts Commission Visual Arts Award for Excellence in Education, June, 2000
- Artist in Residence: Beaverton School District, 1994
- Artist in Residence: Portland Public Schools, 1994
Publications:
- The Designer's Sourcebook 2 Publisher: The Guild, 1996
- Fibre Arts Design Book 5 (Contemporary Textile Art): Edited by Ann Batchelder and Nancy Orban, 1995, Lark Books: painting pictured on page 35
- Kay Henning Danley, a restropective look at paintings, drawings, and mixed media of the previous 20 years), 2017 available through Blurb Books, click on the link below: http://www.blurb.com/b/7845025-kay-henning-danley (please note that this book goes on sale periodically for 1/2 price)
- Upheaval, Paintings 2018-2021, Kay Henning Danley ( 2021) available through www.kaydanley.com
- The Ekphrastic Review, October, 2022 Painting inspired the published poem by Jennifer Dorner titled "Dismantled". Title of the painting is "The New Era."
Selected Exhibits:
- Au Naturel: International juried show for figure painters: Curator, Laura Russo: Clatsop Community College, Astoria, Oregon, 2010
- Life in Action: group show: Gresham City Hall, Gresham Oregon, 2013-14
- Momentum: group show: The Bridge City Artists: Stonehenge Studios, Portland, Oregon May, 2014
- Remax Benefit Juried Exhibit: Portland, Oregon Fall, 2014
- Au Naturel: International Juried show for figure painters, Curator, Barbara Shaiman: Clatsop Community College, Astoria, Oregon, 2015
- Nudes Downtown: River Sea Gallery, Astoria, Oregon, 2015
- S.E. Portland Artwalk, The Ford Building, studio 234, Portland, Oregon, 2015
- "Convergence": group show, The Bridge City Artists, Stonehenge Studios, Portland, Oregon, 2015
- "Winter Show", the Ford Gallery Artists group show: The Ford Building, Portland, Oregon, 2016
- The Third Annual Living Mark Exhibition, an international juried show at the Verum Ultimum Gallery, 2016, 3014 NE Ainsworth, Portland, Oregon
- Hood to Coast, Landscapes of Oregon, Mel's Frame Shop, 2016, Portland, Oregon
- Bridge Cityrtists Juried Group Show, Village Gallery and Frame, 2016, Portland, Oregon
- Piercing the Veil: Chasing Ghosts, an international juried exhibit, Verum Ultimum Gallery, 2016, Portland, Oregon
- S.E. Portland Artwalk, The Ford Building, studio 234, Portland, Oregon, 2017
- The Fourth Annual Living Mark Exhibition, international juried group show, Verum Ultimum Gallery, 2017, Portland, Oregon
- The 5th Annual Living Mark Exhibition: international juried group show, Verum Ultimum Gallery, 2018, Portland, Oregon,
- N.W. Marine Artworks Studios Open House: 2516 NW 29th, Portland, Oregon, 2018,
- Six Artistic Voyages, Canvas, Paper and Clay: group show, Golden Gallery, Beaverton, Oregon, 2018
- A Sense of Wonder, solo exhibition depicting the exhilaration of life in landscape and figurative painting and drawing. Chehalem Cultural Center, Newberg, Oregon 2019
- The Sixth Annual Living Mark Exhibition, juried international group show, Verum Ultimum Gallery, 2019, Portland, Oregon
- Golden Gallery Invitational, group show, 2019 Portland, Oregon
- Northwest Marine Artworks Holiday Open House, 2516 NW 29th Portland, Oregon.
- Gallery 114, "With Bated Breath", juried invitational Gallery 114, SW Glisan Ave. Portland, Oregon. 2020
- Creative Spirit Show of Fine Art and Craft: Westminster Cloisters, Portland, Oregon. 2020
- Corona Portrait Project: online exhibit of portraits created in response to the Covid 19 pandemic. coronaportraitproject.com The Corona Portrait Project is also located on Instagram. 2020
- The Seventh Annual Living Mark Exhibition, juried international group show, Verum Ultimum Gallery, Portland Oregon
- Looking Back/Looking Forward: group exhibition featuring works focusing on the topic of Covid 19 and how it impacts us, depicted in a variety of perspectives. Northwest Marine Artworks, 2516 NW 29th, Portland, Oregon. 2020
- Gallery 114, " Hindsight", juried international group show, 2021. Portland, Oregon
- Gallery 114, "These Truths", juried group non-members, online show, NW Glisan Ave. 2021 Portland, Oregon
- Makers Market, NW Marine Artworks, 2516 NW 29th, 2021 Portland, Oregon
- Gallery 114, ZIGZAG, with painter Joanie Krug, Sue Friesz, sculptor. 2021
- NW Marine Artworks Open Studios, 2021
- Gallery 114, Apacolypse, Maybe, non-members juried international show, NW 11th and Glisan, 2022
- Washington County, Beaverton City Library, 2022
- NW Marine Artworks Annual Open Studios, July 30, 2022
Upcoming:
- Gallery 114: Member's Group Show, July 2023
- Gallery 114, Solo Show: Portal, Painting the Inbetween, May 4- 31 , 2023
- NUd, Art of the Figure, The Gallery at Graphite, group juried show, Edmonds, Wa. January 21- March 18, 2023
Collections:
- Kay Danley's paintings and commissioned works reside in many private collections within the United States, Canada, and Germany.
Representation:
- Gallery 114, Portland, Oregon
