Key West The Newspaper

Beginning Thursday Aug. 3, SALT Gallery, located at 830 Fleming St., will host local artist Garth Holtkamp’s newest offerings for the entire month of August. The show, entitled “Technicolor Tropic,” will feature contemporary architecture and stylized landscape paintings that exemplify the vibrant colors and unique architectural styles of Key West. To celebrate Garth’s newest pieces, SALT will be hosting an opening reception at the gallery from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. onAug. 3.

Garth is a self-taught painter native to Key West, making him a true “Conch” who has spent his life immersed in the tropical landscape of the Florida Keys. Garth’s work has progressed from graffiti tags of his youth growing up in Old Town to fully crafted images on canvas, wood, and vintage windows. The pieces Garth has created for “Technicolor Tropic” are a vivid expression of his love for his island home. The sun, ocean, architecture, and overall landscape of the Keys are not just seen in his work but transmitted intensely to the viewer via technicolor paint choices and expressive line work. The contemporary island scenes he creates are sweetly familiar yet offer a dreamlike experience to the viewer.

Garth’s major art world influences are David Hockney, Andy Warhol, and Edward Hopper. Local Key West artists such as Suzie dePoo, Ann Irvine, Andy Thurber, and Rick Worth have also provided endless inspiration for his Keys-focused aesthetic. A master builder and accomplished construction company owner, Garth is also inspired by the homes he builds and renovates as a carpenter.

Garth has always created art in some form or another. His mother was a central figure in the Key West art community in the 1980s and 1990s, providing Garth with a constant influx of creative energy at home. “The local artists that inspired me were not only names I knew, but family friends who created an immersive artistic environment for me as a growing artist,” he says. As he grew older, his antics of teenage and young adulthood left time for only quick graffiti-style work, usually in route to a social gathering. Then he met fellow artist Katie, who would later become his wife. She pushed him to begin painting actual art pieces and, over the last twelve years, Garth has continued to paint (legally, these days) and has cultivated a signature style.

“The work I’m presenting at SALT is a stylized interpretation of the landscape of Key West,” Garth explains. “The main images are of Key West landmarks such as Louie’s Backyard. These paintings were created ‘en plein-air’ on site, which is a deviation from my usual process of developing my images purely from memory.”

Garth has also included his popular palm tree pieces in his offerings at SALT this month. His palms are created from intricate stencils that are drawn, carefully cut, and spray painted. Each palm stencil is only used a handful of times, making each painting a limited edition.

Garth became connected to SALT Gallery through local friends, the Nelson family. They have been long-time collectors of both Garth and Katie Holtkamp’s work and expressed their love of their art to friend and SALT gallery owner, Maria Sharpe. “After meeting Garth and Katie, I knew that this partnership was a great fit,” Maria says. “Garth’s paintings are truly unique and celebratory of the distinctive Key West aesthetic and we are so excited to feature these works of art at SALT.”

Gallery owners Maria Sharpe and Laura Hackworth feature a new artist each month at SALT Gallery. Holtkamp’s work will remain on display until August 31.

For more information, call 305.517.6088 or visit www.saltislandprovisions.com.