Tim Kurtz

Tim Kurtz was born in Detroit, United States. He studied painting at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) graduating with the degrees Bachelor of Fine Arts (1993) followed by Master of Fine Arts (1996). He has previously taught at the School of the Art Institute, Chicago and while based in Chicago he was also the curator of Gallery X. Tim is the founder and chief designer for Esperanto Furniture Company, USA. Tim is inspired by the North American Woodland culture, its vast wilderness and the stories contained in the objects and artefacts of the Native Tribes. He makes work in response to horseback culture and history. Their stories are preserved in the things they made. Tim says he is still able to find artefacts belonging to the Native American tribes that date back ten thousand years up until the tribes were disbanded in 1812. Very much like these objects, Tim’s paintings are meant to evoke stories. He is interested in pictorial imagery, the ‘crazy’ relationship between the owner and his animal. His influences are George Stubbs, teachers at SAIC, especially Ray Yoshida and Chicago Imagists who drew from the ethnographic collections at the Field Museum. Tim met Muhanned Cader while the two were students at SIAC forming a lasting friendship that has led Tim to travel around Sri Lanka with Muhanned on numerous occasions. Although the jungles and wildlife of Sri Lanka make a contrast to the forests and prairies of the States. The work of the two artists can be viewed as an across continents fascination for the natural world and its cultures. For Tonight No Poetry Will Serve, Tim presents the painting Slithers and Beast 2021 paired up with Bush Woodman 2021 and Skukum 2021 - a set of painted wearable masks made from wood and Masonite. On their own the masks look as if they are watching over you, and similarly, the paintings are looking at you too. This makes the encounter with Tim’s work much like the experience of being in the forest by one’s self, seemingly alone, but watched.

Tim Kurtz has exhibited in many cities around the world including Colombo, London and Chicago. At present he primarily exhibits in New York at 2nd Avenue Arts and Allarts.com. Tim’s work is a part of the permanent collections of Herman Miller, the Gettysburg Museum and the Prop Company in NYC among others. He receives regular commissions from all over the United States and he also makes historical paintings for the preservation of the National Wildlife Parks in the county.



Tim Kurtz lives and works in Grand Rapids Michigan and his cabin in the woodlands of North Michigan.