Artist Bio
James Kroner b. 1978 grew up in direct opposition to his exterior world, it seemed. There was a stark contrast between his normal suburban lifestyle and all those inner adversities of a troubled youth. The two could not be made to fit together and this gave birth to a need, a need to write. By the time he was in high school he would sit for hours to write, page after page was written fueled by the blind enthusiasm to understand himself, thus carrying him through years of journal writing. The road to realization came from this ritual. Again, he could return to the solitude and silence of the written page and find meaning within the throes of a world.
This same world held much visual interest and fascination as well. Kroner began studying art in his early twenties and eventually deliberated to pursue it over his longstanding study of philosophy. Something clicked for him while drawing a series of gesture poses from a figure modeling class, and it was from this click that happened again and again which opened his mind to the path he would take.
During his MFA at the Academy of Art University S.F., James cultivated a powerful shift in focus driven towards self-development as a painter. He received numerous awards including first place for landscape painting 2010 Annual Spring Show, and a full scholarship to study in Italy for the summer of 2011. He has since exhibited his artwork in a large number of shows including solo shows and various group shows. He received the Emerging Artist of 2014, a Solo Exhibition through the Academy’s Atelier Gallery in San Francisco.
We see an incredible awareness of light and atmosphere within his scenes, glowing with an ethereal vitality as if actually alive and moving. From across the room his scenes take on a striking sense of realism in some areas while in others diverge into an orchestral arrangement of tone and color, dissolving away from form altogether yet maintaining a wonderful harmony as a whole. There is a vigorous presence, and a fragility, as if he took a risk within his process of painting. He says that “While painting I want to make a discovery, the process itself is unknown and the viewer can also see this excitement within the work.” He is continually shifting his approach to fit with a result.
Exhibiting in numerous galleries for a variety of group and solo shows Kroner has already caught the attention of collectors and enthusiasts. This emerging artist shows a keen ability and growing reputation, looking to be just the beginning of a long, adventurous career.
C.V.
Education
2011 – 2013 MFA Drawing/Painting, Academy of Art University
2005 – 2010 BFA Drawing/Painting, Academy of Art University
Solo Exhibitions
01/19/2022 New Paintings: Urban and European Works, Karin Clarke Gallery, Eugene OR.
10/25/2019 The work of James Kroner, Christopher Hill Gallery, St. Helena, CA.
07/03/2019 Urban and European Impressions, Highland Art Center, Weaverville CA.
02/02/2018 James Kroner - Spotlight Exhibition, Karin Clarke Gallery, Eugene Or.
04/18/2016 Desta Gallery San Anselmo CA.
07/11/2014 “Instinct” Christian Daniels Gallery SF
03/06/2014 “Energy In Nature” Emerging Artist Exhibition, Academy of Art University, Atelier Gallery, SF
Group Exhibitions
04/2023 Vanessa Rothe’s Americans in Paris, Salmagundi Club, NY NY
08/2023 The Artist in Me - Self Portrait Invitational, Highland Art Center, Weaverville, CA
03/2022 The Oregon Landscape, Karin Clarke Gallery, Eugene OR.
12/2018 Holiday Art Show, Highland Art Center, Weaverville, CA.
11/2018 The Works of James Kroner, Dave Lefner and Francis Livingston, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA
09/2017 Artists for the New Century, Bennington Center for the Arts, Vermont
09/2017 American Impressionists Society 18th Annual Juried Show, Park City, Utah
09/2017 Artist for the New Century Juried Exhibition, The Bennington, Vermont
05/2017 William Wray and James Kroner, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA.
03/2017 Paintguide 2nd Installment, Booth Gallery, New York
12/2016 Small Gems, Abend Gallery, Denver, CO.
12/2016 Small Works Show, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA.
11/2016 3-Artist Show, Christopher Hill Gallery, St. Helena, CA.
07/2016 Last Days of Summer, LPAPA Juried Exhibition, Forest and Ocean Gallery, Laguna Beach CA.
05/2016 Young Masters Exhibition, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA.
03/2016 Uptown, Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA.
02/2016 Small Gems Show, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA.
10/2015 Small Works Show, Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA.
10/2015 Urban Light, 3 man show Christopher Hill Gallery, Healdsburg, CA.
05/2015 Streets of San Francisco, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
03/2015 Still Motion Exhibition, 2 artist show Desta Gallery San Anselmo CA.
02/2015 Small Gems, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA.
01/2015 City Streets, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA1
1/2014 30th Anniversary Waterhouse Gallery Exhibition, Santa Barbara CA.
08/2014 Small Works Salon, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
05/2014 Streets of San Francisco, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
07/2013 Plein Air, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
05/2013 Streets of San Francisco, Christian Daniels Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
10/2012 City Lights, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA.
06/2012 Annual Spring Show Academy of Art University The Cannery, San Francisco, CA.
03/2012 A Summer in Italy, The Cannery, San Francisco, CA.
12/2012 Small Works Show, Renditions Art Gallery, Walnut Creek CA.
11/03/2011 Tiny, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
05/2011 Annual Spring Show Academy Art University 1849 Washington, San Francisco, CA.
10/2010 BFA Senior Show Academy of Art University, Atelier Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
05/2010 Annual Spring Show Academy of Art University, Atelier Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
11/2009 Annual Tiny Show, Studio Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
06/2009 Senior Portfolio Show, Academy of Art University, Gallery 688, San Francisco, CA.
10/2008 Journey: 1661 Hours, Academy of Art University, Gallery 688, San Francisco, CA,
06/2008 Annual Spring Show Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA.
2006 Silicon Valley Open Studios, San Jose, CA.
Awards and Scholarships
2016 June 1st Place, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association in Residence at Forest & Ocean Gallery, Last Days of Summer Juried Exhibition, Laguna Beach, CA.
2015 Oct/Nov 1st Place Overall Plein Air Salon Competition
2015 Oct/Nov Best Water Depiction Award Plein Air Salon
2015 April/May Best Nocturne Award Plein Air Salon Competition
2014 Feb “Emerging Artist 2014” Solo Exhibition Academy of Art University SF
2012 May Honorable Mention Award Annual Spring Show AAU SF
2011 June Full Scholarship Award, Summer Study Abroad in Italy
2010 May First Place Landscape Painting Annual Spring Show AAU
2010 May Third Place Figure Painting Award Annual Spring Show AAU
Press and Publications
2017 Plein Air Magazine, Aug/Sept Issue, Nocturnes, Sunsets and Sunrises, article and quotes
2016 Plein Air Magazine, March Issue, Plein Air Salon Winners Announcement
2014 Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, July Issue Solo Exhibition Announcement for “Instinct” at Christian Daniels Gallery
2014 American Art Collector Magazine, July Issue, Solo Exhibition Announcement for “Instinct” at Christian Daniels Gallery
2014 American Art Collector Magazine, February Issue, interview for “Emerging Artist Show” at Atelier Gallery
2013 American Art Collector Magazine July Issue, Article ’Plein Air Showcase’ on Group Show at Christian Daniels Gallery
Online
2022 Oregon ArtsWatch, Art review: James Kroner at Karin Clarke Gallery, February 2, 2022 by Ester Barkai
2020 Outdoor Painter Visionary Work: 7 Ways to Develop Creativity
2017 Lecco Notizie, Varenna: Pittori da tutto il mondo per immortale i paesaggi lecchesi, scritto da Luisella Aliprandi (translated: Varenna: Painters from all over the world to immortalize the Lecco landscapes)
2017 Outdoor Painter, September, Nocturnes, Sunsets and Sunrises, article and quotes
2015 Plein Air Collector, December Interview “Of Course This Salon Winner Painted in the Rain”
2015 Artists on Art Magazine, Summer Issue, “Visionary Work”
2015 Plein Air Collector, August, Awards Feature: Best Nocturne Award
Teaching Workshops (in person)
Sept 2023 Plein Air Workshop in Bavaria and the Alps, Germany
May 2023 Plein Air Workshop in Umbria and Venice, Italy
June 2022 Plein Air Workshop in Umbria and Tuscany, Italy
Aug 2019 Plein Air Workshop, Lake Como, Umbria and Tuscany
Sept 2018 Plein Air Workshop @ Akron Society of Artists
June 2018 Plein Air Workshop in Umbria and Tuscany
Sept 2017 Urban Abstractions Plein Air Workshop @ Carmel Visual Arts Center, Carmel, CA.
June 2017 Plein Air Cityscape Workshop @ London Fine Art Studios, London, UK
May 2017 Plein Air Northern Italy Lake Como and Venice
April 2017 Plein Air Cityscape Workshop in San Francisco, CA
June 2016 Plein Air Cityscape Workshop @ London Fine Art Studios, London, UK
May 2016 Plein Air Workshop in Umbria and Tuscany, Italy
Sept 2015 Plein Air Workshop in Umbria and Tuscany, Italy
