Scott Kahn was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1946. Kahn studied Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1967. He then relocated to New York where he spent a year as a student of abstract expressionist painter Theodoros Stamos at The Art Students League. Since completing his MFA at Rutgers University in 1970, Kahn has exhibited regularly in the New York art world. Kahn lives in New Rochelle, New York and works from his Brooklyn studio.

Scott Kahn is known for his intricate landscape paintings, drawing inspiration from his local community, his memory and his imagination. This combination of influences creates a dream-like reflection of American life. Khan has described this process as making a 'visual diary' of his experiences.

Kahn's vivid canvases recall the naivety of Henri Rousseau and the surrealism of Rene Magritte, especially in his works incorporating figures inspired by people the artist has encountered. His oil paintings are brimming with poetics, suggesting a psychological interpretation of his subject matter of mysterious dreamscapes and portraits. Nevertheless, the artist has expressed a lack of direct influences or source material, saying in an interview, 'it is best to have no gods'.

Kahn identifies his correspondence with the late, self-taught abstract painter Matthew Wong as a turning point in his career. Bonding over a shared interest in magical realism and nature, the artists inspired each other and championed each other's work. Kahn's career was catapulted after Wong posted a photo of Cul de Sac (2017) on his Instagram in 2018. This other-worldly night scene sparked the interest of collectors, galleries and artists, bringing Kahn's illusory images long-awaited fame and recognition.

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EDUCATION‍

1967 | University of Pennsylvania, B.A.

1968 | Art Students League, New York, Stamos Class

1970 | Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, M.F.A.

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AWARDS‍

1975/6/7 | Albee Foundation, Artist in Residence, Montauk, NY

1986 | Pollock-Krasner Foundation, grant

1992 | Change, Inc., emergency grant

1995 | Pollock-Krasner Foundation, grant

1999 | Mosaic Colony, retreat, Southampton, NY

2008 | Second Prize, Artful Home Portfolio Competition

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SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022 | 'The Walled City', Almine Rech, New York

2021 | Almine Rech, Paris

2019

'Diary Continued', Harper's Books, Easthampton, L.I.

'Diary', Nicelle Beauchene Gallery, Third Floor project space

2018 | 'Now and Then', Ober Gallery, Kent, CT

2012 | Alexey von Schlippe Gallery, University of Connecticut, Avery Point Campus, Groton, CT

2009 | Reef Gallery, Key Largo, FLDiane Birdsall Gallery, Old Lyme, CT

2004

'Personal Space: Paintings by Scott Kahn', Arthur Ross Gallery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NY

2001 | Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NY

2000 | Corbino Gallery, Longboat Key, FL

1996 | Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NY

1995 | Silo Gallery, New Milford, Conn.

1994 | Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NY

1992 | Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NY

1990 | Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NY

1988 | Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NY

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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS‍

2023

'Room by Room: Concepts, Themes, and Artists in The Rachofsky Collection', The Warehouse, Dallas, Texas, US

'L'Almanach 23', Dijon, France

2022

'25 Years', Harper's Gallery, East Hamptons, NY

'Life in an Ivory Tower', curated by Jack Siebert, Lenny Kravitz Building, New York

2020

'Sit Still in the Age of Distraction', Anna Zorina Gallery, NY

'The Circus Has Been Cancelled', Harper's, Easthampton, L.I., NY

2019

'BIG PAINTING', curated by Jonathan Travis, Patrick Parrish Gallery, NY

Upstairs Art Fair, Harper's Book, Amagansett, NY

'Oh Beautiful, The American Landscape', curated by Dee Shapiro, National Arts Club, NY

2017 | Wright Gallery, Northport, MI, "Land-Escape", group show curated by Mary Judge, July-August

2016 | BravinLee Programs, New York, NY, "Introspective: A Show of Artists' Self Portraits", Feb. 4 - March 19, Group Show.

2014

Gallery 928, Cape Coral, FL, "Modern to Pop & Beyond", group show, curated by Eric & Natasha Spoutz

ASC Project Space, "Pipe Dreams, Wishful Thinking, Grand Gestures & Dirty Lies", group show, curated by Ayn Choi NYC

Sullivan Goss Gallery, "Magical Realism", Santa Barbara, CA, Group Show

Gallery 928, Cape Coral, FL, "Manhattan Transfer, A Selection of Contemporary Masters"

2013

Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA, "100 Grand", Group Show

Kohler Arts Center, "One and Only", Sheboygan, WI, Group Show, 10/20/13-1/5/14

AS/Artists Studios, Pop Up Show, Dumbo, November, curated by Jill Conner, NYC

Gallery 304 ASC Projects, Inaugural Show, pop up show, curated by Ayn Choi, NYC

Franklin Riehlman Gallery, "Just Off Madison", open house, NYC, May 22

Fountain Art Fair, 69th Regiment Armory, New York, NY, "A Band Apart" booth, curated by Ayn Choi

AS/Artists Studios "Real Time", pop up show, 2/18, curated by Jill Conner, NYC

2012 | Milavec Hakimi Gallery, Group Show, NYC, "I Can See the Moon"

2011

Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, CT, Holiday Group Show, "Dear Santa"

Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA, "100 Grand", Group Show

2009

Cooley Gallery, Old Lyme, CT, Holiday Group Show “Dear Santa”

Galleries Maurice Sternberg, Chicago, IL, Group Show

2008

Florence Griswold Museum,  Christmas Tree Palette Artist,  Old Lyme CT

Diane Birdsall Gallery,  Old Lyme, CT, Group Show

2007

Lesley Heller Gallery, NYC, “Town & Country”, Group Show

Galleries Maurice Sternberg, Chicago, IL, Group Show

Sullivan Goss Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA,  Group Show

Rona Gallery, London, England, Three-Person Show

2006

Galleries Maurice Sternberg, Chicago, IL, Group Show

Lesley Heller Gallery, NYC, Group Show

American Embassy Moscow, Art in Embassies Program, “Berkshire Nightscape III" three years        

2004

Beth Urdang Gallery, Boston, MA, “The Folk Legacy 1917-2004”,   Group Show

Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NYC, “Alternate Visions: Contemporary Landscapes"

2003 | 'Alternate Visions: Contemporary Landscapes', Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NYC

2002

Katharina Rich Perlow Gallery, NYC

Gallery of the Ridge and Valley Center, Blairstown, NY

'Interiors', Gallery on the Hudson, Irvington, NY                  
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COLLECTIONS‍

AT&T, Somerset, NJ

AT&T, Chicago, IL

Sherman & Sterling, NYC

Davis, Polk & Wardwell, NYC

McGregor Sporting Goods, NJ

Le Boeuf, Lamb, Leiby & Macrae, NYC

Marriott Marquis Hotel, NYC

Security Pacific National Bank, CA

American Management Systems, Washington DC & NYC

Chase Manhattan Bank, NYC

Kelley, Drye & Warren, NYC

The Signal Company, NYC

Allied Bank of Texas, Houston, TX

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, NYC

City Federal Savings & Loan, Somerset, NJ

N.L. Industries, NYC

Public Service Electric & Gas of New Jersey

Markowitz, Preische & Stevens, Easthampton, NY

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Bristol-Meyers Squibb, NYC

United Airlines, Dulles International Airport, Washington, D.C.

Philip Morris Corporation, NYC

S.A. Décor  Heytens, Belgium