The Red Balloon Studio was founded by neo-pop artist Karey Maurice Counts in 2001. The name was inspired by the children’s book & film “The Red Balloon” written and directed by Albert Lamorisse. It is a film about a young boy in Paris who befriends a very large red balloon.

 

Artist Statement:
I challenge my audience to look beyond physical representations and deal with the universal human spirit. The subject matter ranges from people to everyday symbolic images which I find relative to popular culture. My work is a joyful pop parody of art from the 1950’s and 1960’s that I have admired. I incorporated these references to make a personal reassessment of the creative process used by artist during that period in order to expand my own thoughts on developing a new visual approach to painting and drawing. I accomplish this visually by utilizing a technique I developed twenty years ago using wax. I work in dense patterns of color, building layers in order to break the picture plane with a relief approach. I value the element of surprise this method conveys and the freedom of expression it grants. Creating the illusion of drips, spills and spatter are te most exciting moments because it allows the viewer to travel into a third dimension that is surrealistic. I want to popularize the idea of action in creating a work of art. – Karey Maurice Counts b. 1963

 

Background:

 

Karey Maurice briefly studied painting at Mercer County Community College in Trenton, NJ, under Mel Leipzig and in the streets and galleries of New York City during the 80’s art boom.  There he associated with Keith Haring, who influenced and encouraged his art, until his untimely death.  Karey’s work continues in the style of neo-pop.  He works in multiple mediums at once, developing objects that range from two-dimensional painting to digital graphics, and sculpture. 

 

In 2007, Karey served on the Board of Directors at Davinci Art Alliance where he is presently on sabbatical. 

 

Exhibitions:

September 2009 Riverfront Renaissance Ctr., Millville Nj

September 2009 Smile Gallery,Philadelphia PA

March      2009 Artworks Gallery,Trenton Nj

January    2009 The Atrium, Morristown NJ

September 2008 Focal Point Gallery, Bronx NY

August     2008 The Artist Eye Gallery, Galloway, NJ

July           2008 DA Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia PA

July           2008 APW Gallery, New York NY

June          2008 Contemporary Art & Science Building, Trenton NJ

April         2008 APW Gallery, New York, NY

September 2007 Smile Gallery, Philadelphia PA

July           2007 Artworks Gallery, Trenton NJ

July           2007 Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia PA

June          2007 Gallery 125, Trenton NJ

April         2007 Bartram’s Garden, Philadelphia PA

March       2007 Riverfront Renaissance Ctr. Millville NJ

January     2007 Gallery at Saint Asaph’s, Bala Cynwd PA

October    2006 Gallery at Saint Asaph’s, Bala Cynwd PA

October    2006 Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia PA

August     2006 Bartram’s Garden, Philadelphia PA

August     2006 Cafe Ole, Trenton Nj

July           2006 Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia PA

March       2006 The Gallery at Mercer County Community College, West Winsor,Nj

March       2006 Da Vinci Art Alliance, Philadelphia PA

 

November 2005 Gallery 125 Trenton, NJ

 

July 2005 High Street Design Gallery Millville, NJ

 

July 2005 Da Vinci Art Alliance Philadelphia, PA

 

May 2005 Streets 2K5 Festival New Brunswick, NJ

 

April 2005 Susquehanna Art Museum Harrisburg, PA

 

February 2005 Gallery 125 Trenton, NJ

 

February 2005 The Gallery at Mercer MCCC Trenton, NJ

 

October 2004 SkyLineRoom Trenton Makes Bldg. Trenton, NJ

 

September 2004 Da Vinci Art Alliance Philadelphia, PA

 

July 2004 Da Vinci Art Alliance Philadelphia, PA

 

July 2004 Ellerslie Trenton City Museum Trenton, NJ

 

May 2004 Mill Hill Playhouse Trenton, NJ

 

March 2004 Da Vinci Art Alliance Philadelphia, PA

 

January 2004 Carriage House Gallery at Physick Estate Cape May, NJ

 

November 2003 The Gallery at Mercer MCC Trenton, NJ

 

May 2003 Cafe Ole Trenton, NJ

 

January 2003 Urban Word Cafe Trenton, NJ

 

December 2002 Gumbo Gallery Brooklyn, NY

 

April 2001 Gallery 911@Revsin Philadelphia, PA

January 2001 New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, NJ

July 2000 Trenton City Museum, Trenton, NJ

February 2000 Urban Word, Trenton, NJ

December 1999 Artist Space, New York, NY

September 1999 CWW Gallery, Newark, NJ

March 1999 Mercer County Community College, Trenton, NJ

September 1998 Phillips Mill, New Hope, PA

December 1997 Artist Space, New York, NY

November 1997 CWW Gallery, Newark, NJ

February 1996 Firehouse Gallery, Bordentown, NJ

March 1995 Slayton House Gallery, Columbia, MD

April 1994 Supper club, New York, NY

January 1994 Pavilion Gallery, Burlington County Memorial Hospital

December 1993 Village Gate, New York, NY

May 1993 The Northeast Trade Center, Boston, MA

June 1992 Artworks Gallery, Trenton, NJ

May 1992 Mercer county Community College, Trenton, NJ

April 1991 Artworks Gallery, Trenton, NJ

May 1991 18th Street Arts Complex, Santa Monica, CA

October 1989 Artworks Gallery, Trenton, NJ

January 1989 Arial Gallery, New York, NY