Kevin Appel

Kevin Appel is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Art at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and serves as Executive Director of University Art Galleries. He holds an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His work explores intersections between painting and architecture, focusing on the dissolution of domestic and pictorial spaces. Key exhibitions include solo shows at Ameringer McEnery Yohe (2014), Christopher Grimes Gallery (2013), and group exhibitions such as Trespassing: Houses x Artists (2003) and Drawing Now: Eight Propositions (2002).

Appel's research interests span painting techniques, spatial interventions, and the relationship between art and architecture. His work critiques contemporary domesticity and materiality through mixed media and site-specific installations. Publications include catalog essays for major institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Walker Art Center, analyzing themes of technological influence, cultural geography, and formalist abstraction.

• Affiliations: University Art Galleries, UCI Institute and Museum of California Art, Digital Filmmaking program
• Key Projects: 'Black Water' (2014), 'Cabin Essence' (2006), 'The Unholding Center' (2004)

His academic leadership includes directing UCI's art galleries and fostering interdisciplinary collaborations. Appel's practice bridges studio work and curatorial initiatives, emphasizing experimental methodologies in contemporary art.