San Francisco's newest art gallery, The Gallery Lounge, will be featuring the vibrant and playful works of artist John Kraft. The Gallery Lounge is located at 510 Brannan Street in San Francisco, and the opening reception will be held on Friday, December 3, 2004 from 7:00 to 9:00pm. The show runs through January 15, 2005 and will also include works by artist Kim Albrecht.

Kraft was recently selected as a Featured Artist by Apple, and his art can be seen in Dwell Magazine and an upcoming feature in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. Kraft’s work received further exposure when Shelley Esaak of About.com featured him as the latest 'Artist You Should Know'.

Since the mid 1990s Kraft has focused on the use of vibrant color and strong line to communicate the themes and emotions found in his art. While at first glance his work is abstract, he considers his work to be representational in an emotional context. Kraft adds, “I begin with the creation of acrylic on wood panel paintings, accented with pastels, and then bring the work into the digital realm for the creation of archival Giclées on fine art paper.”

The use of primary colors in Kraft’s work is both for visual impact and emotional clarity. He explains, “In my painting, Lombard Street, my goal is not to convey the specificity of the location or the precise nature of each home that lines the street, but to evoke the emotion of the twists and turns, the vibrancy of the surrounding city, and the joy of discovery.”

Kraft was born in Los Angeles in 1967.The son of a marine engineer and child psychologist, he was encouraged from an early age to explore and develop both his creative and analytical sides. This was evidenced with his parallel pursuits of painting and songwriting while also earning two degrees in engineering. Primarily a self-taught artist, Kraft has had periods of independent study in both Europe and the Far East.

Signed limited edition Giclée prints of John Kraft’s original paintings are available via his website, www.johnkraft.com.