Discovering Thomas Kinkade's brilliance: A glimpse into his Winter Wonderland exhibit | In Austin December 2023 through January 6, 2024
Austin, TX — Step into the enchanting Thomas Kinkade's winter wonderland at McLennan Pen Co. Gallery in Austin. Open now through January 6, 2024, this captivating exhibition showcases three incredibly rare original paintings by the iconic artist, along with a treasure trove of editioned artworks and memorabilia. Here you can immerse yourself in a holiday-themed installation that pays homage to Kinkade's legacy and celebrate the charm of holiday kitsch, see a mini Christmas tree village, and more.
This is by appointment only.
McLennon Pen Co. Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of Thomas Kinkade's Winter Wonderland in Austin, Texas. It is an exhibition featuring three extremely rare original paintings by the artist and a plethora of editioned artworks and memorabilia. Set in a holiday-themed installation inspired by the late artist’s legacy, the show is an examination of a misunderstood artist who is now being reevaluated in the years since his passing in 2012. The poignant new documentary that will be released next year, Art For Everybody, shines a new light on the self-proclaimed “Painter of Light” as significantly more multidimensional than his carefully crafted persona made him appear. This exhibition is a survey of Kinkade’s marketing brilliance and a celebration of holiday kitsch–there will be paintings of snowy streets and warm glowing houses, a Christmas tree room adorned with his studio’s commercial products, a Kinkade electric train set with a mini village.
A unique and often misunderstood artist, Kinkade was not accepted by the art world, even at the peak of his prominence in the 1990s and 2000s. He pitted himself against the elite art establishment, saying that he preferred to make artwork for “real people.” While there is no mention of him in art history books, and his work has rarely been exhibited in internationally recognized galleries, or museums, the artist was said to have his work in one out of every twenty homes in America during his lifetime. Arguably the most financially successful artist in the early 2000s, Kinkade had hundreds of stores selling just his artworks in malls and vacation towns across the country. His former art publishing company, Media Arts Group, Inc., made hundreds of thousands of reproductions of his artwork, at one point was making over 100 million USD a year, and was even publicly traded on the stock market. Monetary success aside, Kinkade once said in an interview defending his career: “My art is relevant because it is relevant to 10 million people. That makes me the most relevant artist in current culture, not the least.”
About McLennon Pen Co. Gallery:
McLennon Pen Co. Gallery was founded by Jill McLennon in March 2023 with a commitment of showcasing the work of emerging and internationally established artists. The gallery aims to present contemporary art that is exciting, poetic, and emblematic of the times, while also placing the work within a historical context.
Prior to moving to Austin, McLennon spent thirteen years working in New York City for globally renowned commercial art galleries and auction houses in placing contemporary artwork in private and public collections, curating exhibitions, and supporting some of today’s most esteemed living artists in their career development.
The name of the gallery has been passed down from McLennon's grandfather who established a luxury pen shop in downtown Chicago that originally opened in 1934.