From the Artist:

This body of work, titled “Arriving Somewhere, But Not Here”, delves into the enigmatic realms of life and death, exploring the profound mysteries that both unite and distinguish these two facets of existence. Each image becomes a portal through which I navigate the intricate interplay between light and shadow, presence and absence, beginnings and endings.

Our existence is all about balance, hierarchy, and gravity, and we cannot traverse through this landscape alone. Amidst the surface of these images, there lies a veil of uncertainty, a whisper of the unknown that haunts the edges of perception. It is within this liminal space that the true essence of my work resides—an exploration of the profound mysteries that lie beyond the boundaries of comprehension: Spiritualism, religion, and faith.

Within the layers of muted tones and subtle textures, I strive to create a space that is at once familiar and unfamiliar, where the ordinary is imbued with a sense of the extraordinary. Each brushstroke blurs the line between reality and imagination, inviting viewers to navigate a landscape that is both recognizable and mysterious. Through the careful rendering of light and shadow, I depict scenes that resonate with echoes of the familiar—the warm glow of a sunset, or the buzz of electric lamplight at night—yet within these familiar settings, there lurks an undercurrent of the unknown. Shapes shift and perspectives warp, lending an air of unreality to the scene. In this surreal matrimony of the familiar and unfamiliar, viewers are encouraged to question their perceptions and delve deeper into the enigma of existence.

Through my paintings, I ask viewers to embrace the paradoxical nature of existence—to find solace in the comfort of the known while embracing the excitement of the unknown. For it is in this delicate balance between the two that the true essence of life and death reveals itself—an image created from brushstrokes of both familiarity and mystery, inviting us to explore the infinite depths of the human experience. I invite viewers to embark on a journey of contemplation and introspection, to confront the inevitability of mortality and the eternal quest for meaning. As we embrace the mystery of life and death, we come to understand the fragile beauty of our shared humanity, and the boundless depths of the human spirit. We are all arriving somewhere, but not here.

Born in Fairview Park, Ohio in 1992, Kit Palencar currently resides in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and has received a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Kent State University in the spring of 2018 with a major in painting and drawing.

Graduating from the University of Akron in 2016 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Palencar was awarded the top-honor scholarship at the Myers School of Art as well as receiving an additional private scholarship for his watercolors through the Frederic Whitaker and Eileen Monaghan Whitaker Foundation.

Having exhibited in galleries across Northeast Ohio and collectors ranging from around the globe, Palencar has taught foundation drawing and life drawing courses at The University of Akron, Kent State University, and several painting &  drawing courses at the Canton Museum of Art for the last six years. As with his expanding teaching career, Palencar also teaches an art appreciation course through the Correctional Education Department at Ashland University.