Percy Kleinops
About Percy
Website: www.handwordspublishing.com
Poet – Artist- Author
Born - 1942 Riga, Latvia
Lives - Tarpon Springs, FL
Works - Open Sky Studio and Gallery, Tarpon Springs, FL
Percy is a studio partner at Open Sky Studio and Gallery in Tarpon Springs, FL, where he paints, writes and holds poetry readings. Many of his paintings are accompanied by poetry or a narrative or both to give the viewer an amplified experience while viewing his art.
After writing his first poem “Journeys” in 2017, he self-published his first book of poems and art in 2018, “To Keep Us Human “. From 2018-2023 he wrote hundreds of poems and created “Poem Cards”, marketed at his studio and gift shops. During the Covid Pandemic 2021-2022, Percy wrote a poem a day capturing the experiences shared by many during that period and posted them on his Facebook Page. In 2024, he published 6 poetry chapbooks featuring his art on the covers. He is currently working on a second and third book of poems and art, “All Parts Matter” and “Our Hearts Beat the Same”.
Percy is a humanist with a lifetime of experience as a law enforcement officer, volunteer firefighter, lawyer, a pioneer in the organic and sustainable food service industry and entrepreneur. Percy traveled to every state in the USA and most countries in Europe.
He came to art late in life. His art reflects his deep understanding of the human character. He paints stories of the challenges faced by humans to bring awareness and to ignite conversations to bring understanding. He considers his work as “Narrative Expressionism,” though he strays on occasion to other subjects.
Artist Statement
<<My work as painter and poet follows the tradition of activism and pursues the humanist quest for equality through understanding. My paintings of oil, acrylic and mixed media trend to Narrative Expressionism, with the objective of igniting a conversation seeking answers about our condition as humans, leading to acceptance of individual uniqueness and recognition of the inclusive, we, though different.>> (Percy Kleinops)
Education
BS - Indiana University, Bloomington IN
JD - Cabrillo University School of Law, San Diego CA
Solo Exhibitions
2022
International Online Solo Exhibition Sept 15-Oct 15, 2022 sponsored by Gallerium, Toronto, Canada
Mirella Cimato Gallery - St Petersburg 2022 (May – June)
Francis Wilson Playhouse Gallery Solo Exhibition –Clearwater FL, Solo and dual exhibitions
Group Exhibitions – On Premise
2025-2018:
Unfinished Democracy, Artistic Reflections – Juried – 2024 -The Culture Center of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, MA
Black Art Matters – Juried -2023 - Carrollwood Culture Center, Carrollwood, FL – 2023 – Awarded 2nd place for “Systemic Racism – It Hurts”
Is It Me? Exhibition – Juried – 2023 - Trolley Barn Gallery, Poughkeepsie, NY
The 23rd Annual Wills Creek Exhibition of Fine Art – Juried -2022 at the Allegany Art Council, Cumberland, MD
10x10x10xTieton 2022 Exhibition – Juried - 2022 at the Tieton Arts & Humanities Center, Tieton, WA
Empowerment Vs Exploitation Exhibition – Juried – 2022- The Culture of Center of Cape Cod, South Yarmouth, MA
Largo Library Gallery – Juried -2022-2023-2024 – Largo, FL
Fresh Start Community Exhibition – Juried - 2021 - Studio 620, St Petersburg, FL
BEHOLD - Holiday Show & Sale - 2019 - Morean Art Center, St Petersburg, FL
DFAC Holiday Invitational Exhibitions – 2018 -2019-2020-2021 - Dunedin Fine Arts Center, Dunedin, FL
DFAC Annual Members, Students, Faculty Show – 2018 -2019-2020-2021- Dunedin Fine Arts Center, Dunedin, FL
Latest Publications:
Loving – 2024 – Poetry Chapbook with Poetry & Cover Art
Affirmation Now - 2024 – Poetry Chapbook with Poetry & Cover Art
Spring - 2024 – Poetry Chapbook with Poetry & Cover Art
Suncoast News – Jan 11, 2024 – Reporting my donation of a work for an auction by West Klosterman Preservation Group, Inc 501 (c)(3) in support of preserving undeveloped land in Pinellas County
Books – Poems by Percy Kleinops included: Florida Barbs - Poetry Anthology 2024
Artistonish – 2023 – International Distribution – Publisher: Discover the Artist
WorkingTitle – 2022 – Sarasota/STPete/Tampa -Publisher: Michael Crabb
Femina – 2022 – International Distribution – Publisher: Gallerium Art
