About the Artist
Kevin McCants
Reflections, Mannequins and the Fashion that's there!!
Kevin L McCants (1966 - Current) African American Painter, Teacher, Musician. Kevin’s artistic practice began at an early age when he started drawing at six years old. Following his childhood in Columbus Ohio, he studied fashion illustration and commercial art at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Upon graduation he took off to California where he became interested in music.
Having spent the last 18 years instructing painters, briefly for Larry Gluck in his schools and later providing private instruction in the basics of fine art, as well as his on-going workshops at the Betsy Lueke Creative Art Center Gallery and McGroarty Art Center, Kevin's core philosophy stresses the critical importance of sound drawing skills. Kevin believes drawing is the foundation on which all artistic techniques stand, whether embraced literally or rejected consciously. He has observed that without this skill, all other skills fall short. His primary goal as a teacher is to teach drawing techniques by which his students can locate and correct the drawing mistakes that can lead to other painting missteps. Kevin is ever striving to push the limits of what can be achieved using pure imagination and/or any medium he chooses as the vehicle to move his work forward.
Johannes Vermeer, Alan Beeton, Man Ray, Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne and Thomas Gainsborough are a few historic artists who have used mannequins to express their artistry and creative view of their world. Expressions that tell a story, capture a mood or simply sell an idea. I use mannequins to represent the faceless appearance of human desire, need, and social disconnect without the baggage of specific human personality.
This is the basis and partial story behind my paintings. The aforementioned artists in particular contribute prominently to my practice, while others such as Rembrandt and John Singer Sargent, with their stunning ability to capture texture, the delicate nature of a lace collar, or even the sheen of a fine piece of cloth, have influenced other aspects of my work.
At the most rudimentary level, I paint the images I find in commercial windows, from New York to Los Angeles, from Bergdorf's to Beverly Hills, reflecting fashion trends and styles, from the past, present and into the future featuring imitation human beings integrated with the real world outside.
Using panels and canvas, working with glazing, washes and other techniques, all while focusing on capturing light, reflections and the essence of style and fashion, I create images that encapsulate an aspect of urban consumerism with lay figures that are stand-ins for more complicated lifestyle aspiration.
Memberships:
California Art Club (CAC)
Oil Painters of America (OPA)
Los Angeles Art Association (LAAA)
Burbank Art Association (BAA)
Burbank Art Association (BAA) Scholarship Committee
California Creative Arts
Pasadena Society of Artist (PSA)
Thousand Oaks Art Association (TOAA)
Arts Council Of The Conejo Valley (ACCV)
American Watercolor Society (AWS)
(Formerly) Pastel Society of Southern California (PSSC).
Artlounge Collective.
©
Recent Shows & Awards:
BLCAC Instructors Show, Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery.
Opening Reception: Friday, July 10, 7 - 9 pm.
The gallery show runs from July 6 - 23, 2026
12 works from these Two series: Humanity Interrupted, Birth of a Reflection Painter.
Pasadena Society of Artist 2026 101st annual Juried Art Exhibition (closed Mondays)
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 12:00 pm Thursday, April 30, 2026 6:00 pm
The Los Angeles Makery 260 South Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA 90012
Accepted Works: B.G. Punk "Drummer,,, Funky Drummer" in Window #6 (Honor of Merit)
Judge: Catherine Hess Former Chief Curator of European Art at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Former Curator, Department of Sculpture and Works of Art
Under One Roof: Kevin McCants & Karen Rosa, a Husband and Wife Two person show.
January9 -29, 2026 Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery.
Featured over 80 Paintings: Oils, Drawings, Pastels and Watercolors.
Pasadena Society of Artist 2025 Juried Exhibition October 3-23, 2025 Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery.
Accepted Works: Reflection Watercolor, The Watcher in Window #6 Oil
Thousand Oaks Art Association, Member Show June 2025. Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery.
Accepted Works: Reflection Watercolor, B.G. Punk "The Dress" in Window #5, "Man Shell" in Window #9"
Pasadena Society of Artist 2025 Centennial Juried Art Exhibition
“100 Years – 100 Images”
Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St. Pasadena, from February 28 to September 14, 2025.
Works: Rodeo Clown, Watercolor (Honorable Mention) , Italian Sports Car Watercolor
Faces and Figures at UBS Bank 3011 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village CA May 1st - August 29 2024 Works: Birth Of An Oil Painter "#8 EXIT", Birth Of An Oil Painter "#9 GESSO", Birth Of An Oil Painter "#10 SCRUB", Birth Of An Oil Painter "#11 CREATE"
Thousand Oaks Art Association 2024 Open Juried Show (Current) Works: Young Bull Rider Oil Painting, Rodeo Clown Watercolor (1st place)
GLAM. Mondrian Hotel Gallery, 7 Featured Paintings, Los Angeles CA January 2024 - May 2024
8440 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Together. California Creative Arts group show. November 2023 – January 24th, 2024
The Gallery in The Colony Theatre, Burbank Ca. Works: Chroma Love #1, Chroma Love #2
Reflected and Projected. California Creative Arts group show. September 18th, 2023 – January 12th, 2024
Encino Terrace Gallery 15821 Ventura Blvd Encino, CA 91436 Open M-F 9am-6pm
Burbank Art Association, Fall Show. Nov 2023. Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery.
Accepted Works: Two Dancers
Thousand Oaks Art Association, Member Show Nov 2023. Works: Italian Mannequin Portrait in Window #12 / Moonlight Goddess Mannequin Portrait in Window #13, Honorable Mention
OPA Online Showcase Fall 2022. Accepted Works: B.G. Punk " The Jacket" in Window # 3, B.G. Punk The Dress in Window #5,
The Traveler in Window #3, The Watcher in Window #6,
Thousand Oaks Art Association, Member Show. November 2 - 28 2022.
Accepted works: Birth of A Reflection Painter/ Reveal # 11 Create
Birth of A Reflection Painter/ Reveal # 9 Gesso
Birth of A Reflection Painter/ Reveal # 11 Create 1st Prize oil category.
Burbank Instructors Art Show. September 2022 Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery.
Works: The Jacket in Window # 3, Misty For Me, Selfie in Woobie, New Mexico oil #1
Thousand Oaks Art Association, Open Juried Show. May 2022. Thousand Oaks Community Gallery.
Accepted Work: "Mohawk in Window # 7"
Pasadena Society of Artist. 97th Annual Juried Exhibition. May 2022. Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery.
Accepted Works: The Traveler in Window #3
Burbank Art Association, Spring Show. Geo Gallery. April 2022. Accepted work: Infused
Bold Brush Competition May 2022. Entry: New Mexico Oil #1, New Mexico Landscape #2
Bold Brush Competition April 2022. Entry: Z4, Z3 Nude with Coffee
Bold Brush Competition March 2022
Thousand Oaks Art Association, Member Show. Nov 2021. Best in Show B.G. Punk " The Jacket" in Window # 3
Accepted Works: B.G. Punk The Shoes in Window # 4
Show Judged by Anette Power
Burbank Art Association, Fall Show. Nov 2021. Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery.
Accepted Works: 1st Place. Still life B.G. Punk "The Dress" in Window #5
Pasadena Society of Artist. 96th Annual Juried Exhibition. October 2021. Whites Gallery in Montrose, Ca
Accepted Work: Selfie Expression in Window #5
Judged by Dr. Mika Cho.
Pasadena Society of Artist. 8th Artist's Choice Online Exhibition. June 2021, Accepted Works:
B.G. Punk "Fishnets" in Window #8, B.G. Punk "The Jacket" in Window #3, "Man Shell" in Window #9, Painter, Watching Painter, Watching Paint Dry
Pasadena Society of Artist. New Member Showcase. April 2021. Works: B.G. Punk "The Shoes" in Window #4,
B.G. Punk "The Dress" in Window #5, The Watcher in Window #6, Selfie Expression in Window #5
Burbank Art Association, Spring Show. Geo Gallery. April 2021. Accepted work: Santa Ana Pueblo New Mexico Landscape
Thousand Oaks Art Association, Open Juried Show. Feb 2021. 1st Place Oil/Acrylics
The Watcher in window in Window # 6
Accepted Works: B.G. Punk The Dress in Window #5, Selfie Expression in Window# 5
Show Judged by Jeff Horn.
Burbank Arts Association, Fall show 2020. Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery 1st Place. Abstract/Contemporary B.G Punk "Mohawk in Window # 7"
Gallery Shows:
Pasadena Society of Artist 2025 Centennial Juried Art Exhibition (Current)
“100 Years – 100 Images”
Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St. Pasadena, from February 28 to September 14, 2025.
Works: Rodeo Clown, Watercolor (Honorable Mention) , Italian Sports Car Watercolor
Faces and Figures at UBS Bank 3011 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village CA May 1st - August 29 2024
Mondrian Hotel Gallery, 7 Featured Paintings, Los Angeles CA January 2024 - May 2024
8440 W Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Reflected and Projected. California Creative Arts group show. September 18th, 2023 – January 12th, 2024
Encino Terrace Gallery 15821 Ventura Blvd Encino, CA 91436 Open M-F 9am-6pm
Reflected. Kevin McCants solo art show. 1/30/2023 - 2/28/2023
Moorpark College Art Gallery 7075 Campus Road Administration Building
Moorpark, California 93021 United States
Featuring 19 Paintings and Sketches
Reflect / Reveal Kevin McCants Solo Art Show. October 7 - 27 2022
. Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery. Featuring 60 Paintings, Drawings and Watercolors
Virtual Tour:
https://kuula.co/share/collection/79J9d?logo=0&info=0&fs=1&vr=1&sd=1&initload=0&thumbs=1
Museum:
"We Gather" Permanent Collection at the Santa Monica History Museum.
Museum Shows:
Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St. Pasadena, from February 28 to September 14, 2025.
Works: Rodeo Clown, Watercolor (Honorable Mention) , Italian Sports Car Watercolor
Santa Monica History Museum. " We Gather " The Painting, June 16th - June 21st, 2022
Juneteenth Commemoration, In conjunction with Orchestra Santa Monica (OSM)
We Gather Now apart of the Permanent Collection
"We Gather": Black Life in Santa Monica told through Music, Visuals, and Narrative", at the California African American Museum (CAAM) on Thursday April 21st 2022
Guest Judge:
2025 Burbank Airport Light Box Advisory Committee
2025 Youth Art Expo: 100 Years of Play April 4 – 25 Tk – 12 grade
Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center 1100 W Clark Ave Burbank, CA 91506
Stough Canyon Nature Center. Gallery Grand Opening. February 21st - March 13th
Burbank Fine Arts Federation Member Show. March 3 2024. Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery
2023 Youth Art Expo: April 4 – 25 Tk – 12 grade
Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center 1100 W Clark Ave Burbank, CA 91506
Burbank Fine Arts Federation Member Show. March 3 2023. Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center Gallery
Articles/Print:
The Burbank Bla Bla Living Arts Magazine: April 2026 Issue Cover Art: Moonlight Goddess in Window #13 ‐ Oil ‐ Panel
https://www.theburbankblabla.com/
https://burbankleader.outlooknewspapers.com /01/17/2026/ Laurell: Artist Couple Gathers Their Work 'Under One Roof'
https://burbankleader.outlooknewspapers.com/2022/09/15/burbank-creative-arts-center-holds-city-secret/
https://myburbank.com/artist-kevin-mccants-unveils-reflect-reveal-collection-of-paintings-at-betsy-lueke-creative-arts-center/
https://www.toacorn.com/articles/briefs-721/
Shoutout LA. Online Magazine June 27th 2022 https://shoutoutla.com/meet-kevin-mccants-artist-instructor/
Radio:
Challenges of Faith with Gary McCants radio program.
https://en.padverb.com/COFRP
Magazines:
OPM Magazine: Oil Painters of America Annual issues from 2021-2024
- Shoutout LA. Online Magazine June 27th 2022 https://shoutoutla.com/meet-kevin-mccants-artist-instructor/
Film:
"We Gather: Black Life in Santa Monica told through Music, Visuals, and Narrative", at the California African American Museum (CAAM) on Thursday April 21st 2022
Books:
McCants Reflections of Mannequins & Man
Music:
Kevin "Uncle Ball" McCants. Album Title: Rock Stop 2017
Written, Arrange, Performed and Produced By Kevin McCants
Kevin "Uncle Ball" McCants. Album Title: Love Child 2012
Written, Arrange, Performed and Produced By Kevin McCants
Ardent Fuze. Album Title: Out Of The Cave 2009 Released for Streaming Worldwide January 3rd 2025
Lyrics, Lead Vocals and Backing Vocals
South Bay Blues Authority. Album Title: Respect 2008 listed as Kevin McKants
Lead Vocals
