we were here
This body of work began with observing my immediate environment. What I noticed, without having to go very far, was that evidence of the lives of the people around me is scattered throughout the landscape.
The paintings in this exhibition are based on discarded objects I encountered in my everyday environment, most of them within my own townhome complex or during routine errands. I’ve begun to learn about my neighbors through what they left behind. Kids eat a lot of candy and don't always pick up after themselves. The neighborhood teenagers gather around the corner pond, leaving drink cans and the remnants of late-night hangouts scattered among the rocks. Much of it eventually collects in what I've come to call the "trash swamp."
This is one way we leave a mark on the world, these objects becoming quiet records of our presence.
The moths in this exhibition are observers like me. The eyes on their wings watch over the natural world, serving as reminders to pay attention.
- Kennedy B. Holley
Exhibiton: Sept 8-30, 2026
Opening Reception: Sept 10, 6-8pm
LELAND CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
View the work:
Rocks
Trash Rocks 1 Oil on canvas 18 × 20" $650
Trash Rocks 2 Oil on canvas 18 × 20" $650
swamp
Trash Swamp 1 Oil on canvas 20 × 24" $800
Trash Swamp 2 Oil on canvas 20 × 24" $800
Trash Swamp 3 Oil on canvas 20 × 24" $800
Yellow Balloon Oil on canvas panel 16 × 20" $550
Out Back Oil on canvas panel 11 × 14" $400
Trash Swamp Study Oil on canvas panel 11 × 14" $400
trash
These paintings developed from my Trash a Day project, a six-month challenge to draw one piece of trash from my everyday environment each day until reaching 1,000 followers on TikTok. More than 170 drawings were created during the project, and six were selected with the help of my online audience to become larger paintings for this show.
York Responsibility Oil on canvas 16 × 20" $500
Not Kool. Aid. Oil on canvas 16 × 20" $500
Littered Lay’s Oil on canvas 16 × 20" $500
Crushed Crush Oil on canvas 16 × 20" $500
It’s gonna Ketchup to you Oil on canvas 16 × 20" $500
It’s not Smartie to litter Oil on canvas 16 × 20" $500
Moths
The moths are observers like me.
The eyes on their wings watch over the natural world, serving as reminders to pay attention.
Moth 1 Oil on canvas 8 × 8" $300
Moth 2 Oil on canvas 8 × 8" $300
Moth 3 Oil on canvas 8 × 8" $300
Moth 4 Oil on canvas 8 × 8" $300
Moth 5 Oil on canvas 8 × 8" $300
Moth 6 Oil on canvas 8 × 8" $300
Moth 7 Oil on canvas 8 × 8" $300
Moth 8 Oil on canvas 8 × 8" $300
Moth 9 Oil on canvas 8 × 8" SOLD
Interested in purchasing a work from the exhibition?
Contact kbhartthings@gmail.com for availability and purchasing information.