Milan Kecman

Kecman’s work has a versatile approach that conveys a flexibility that brings a unique vision to each project. His work has included b&w scratchboard with color wash in addition to painting in acrylics and oils. Having an interest in history and drawing from early influences in mythology, folk tales and Aesop’s fables he makes frequent use of allegory and humor in a style perhaps best described as “visual storytelling”.

A BFA graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art he has also worked as a graphic designer and art director. Pursued a career in illustration and worked as a freelance illustrator until 1995 when he took a position as an editorial artist with the local newspaper. No longer with the paper he is currently devoting time to exploring new creative directions. Familiar with photography and the computer as visual tools. He also takes on commissioned work in addition to reproducing some work as limited edition Giclee prints. He has done public art projects for St Clair Superior Development Corp. and United Way’s “Guitarmania”. In the summer of 2010 he created a large outdoor mural for a community garden wall on Storer Ave. in Cleveland

He is active in The Northern Ohio Illustrators Society having served as vice president for a number of years. In addition to NOIS he is also a member of various community art groups in the northeast Ohio region.

During the past several years he has exhibited in local art festivals.Has won a Best of Show in Hudson Art on the Green, and Honorable Mentions at the 6^th and 8th Annual Crocker Park Art Fairs. He has been accepted in juried art shows at the Chagrin Valley Art Center, Bayarts Annual Exhibit, Artists Archives of The Western Reserve, The Annual May Show at Lakeland Community College, The Shaker Heights Library, 5th Annual Ohio Online Visual Artist Registry show in Columbus. In addition he has been juried into the Waterloo Arts Exhibition and the Fairmount Center for the Arts Exhibit where won a second place in the painting category. Additional juried shows include: Art NEO “Cleveland Creates, Mandel JCC-J Show, CIA Alumni Exhibit. Group shows include Tri-C West “About Face” and Bayarts “Madmen and a Broad”.

In 2015 his Head2Head Exhibit premiered at Bayarts in Bay Village. Since that opening, in addition to being juried into several art exhibitions, he has had a traveling show of these paintings at Fairmount Center for the Arts, The Main Cleveland Public Library, The Malvina J. Freedson Gallery in Lakewood, Gallery+ and Cleveland West Art League and Mala Galleriain Kennett Square Pa. In 2018 had a solo show at the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Gallery at Cleveland Hopkins Airport. In 2021 H2H exhibited at Summit Artspace in Akron.