Ken Taylor 1936-2015
From the time he was a child growing up in Detroit, Ken Taylor has been interested in art. His first set of paints received at age eight inspired a life-long love of painting.
Ken’s award-winning paintings and illustrations have appeared in countless annual reports, brochures, posters, newspaper and magazine ads, billboards, record albums and book covers. He created two of the prestigious and highly collectible event posters for the Automotive Grand Prix of Detroit, and his limited edition “25 Years of Mustang” poster for the Ford Motor Company is still treasured by automobile enthusiasts around the world.
Though he’s a self-taught artist, Ken has mentored numerous beginners in the business, and has served on the faculty of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit as a part-time instructor, teaching Airbrush Illustration.
His work has been recognized over the years through six Caddy Awards and presentations from the Society of Illustrators, the Art Director’s Club and Print Magazine’s Regional Design of Excellence.
Ken’s work has been shown in numerous juried exhibitions and at galleries throughout southeastern Michigan.
GALLERIES
- Alfred Berkowitz Gallery, Dearborn, MI
- Anton Art Center, Mt. Clemens, MI
- Artcenter Front Street Gallery, Traverse City, MI
- Birmingham Gallery, Birmingham, MI
- Elizabeth Stone Gallery, Birmingham, MI
- Lawrence Street Gallery, Ferndale, MI
- Orchard Lake Gallery, West Bloomfield, MI
- Paint Creek Center for the Arts, Rochester, MI
- Janice Charach Gallery, JCC, West Bloomfield, MI
- Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
- The Scarab Club, Detroit, MI
- Starkweather Arts Center, Romeo, MI
PARTIAL LIST OF PAST EXHIBITIONS
SOLO SHOWS:
- Ken Taylor Retrospective – Starkweather Arts Center, Romeo, MI, 2016
- The Art of Ken Taylor – Cherry Hill Village, Canton, MI, 2011
- Two Men & Their Art: Ken Taylor and Don Wieland – Starkweather Arts Center, Romeo, MI, 2011
- Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, MI, 2010
GROUP SHOWS:
- Michigan Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition, Bay City, MI, 2013, 2014
- Greater Michigan Art Exhibition, Midland MI, 2013
- The Art of the Cruise, Birmingham Gallery, Birmingham, MI, 2014
- Michigan Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition, Lansing, MI, 2012
**Norman and Dulcie Rosenfeld Award - Annual Members Exhibition, Starkweather Arts Center, Romeo, MI, 2004-2014
- Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center, Birmingham, MI, 2007, 2009, 2013
- 8th Biennial National Art Exhibition, Visual Arts Center; Punta Gorda, FL, 2012
- Our Town Annual Art Show, Birmingham, MI, 2004-2014
**Gold Award 2011
**Silver Award 2009 - Thumb Area Artists Exhibition, Romeo & Oxford, MI, 2001-2014
**Floral Award 2001, 2002, 2003
**3rd Place Award 2004, 2009
**Honorable Mention 2008
**Merit Award 2013 - Arts in Harmony 2012 International Juried Art Show, Elk River, MN, 2012
- American Watercolor Society Exhibit, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, 2011
- Working Class Heroes, The Scarab Club, Detroit, MI, 2011
- SCNY Annual Non-Member Painting Exhibition, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY, 2011
- First & Last Invitational Art Exhibit, Margot’s Gallery, Oxford, MI, 2011
- Canton Fine Arts Exhibition, Canton, MI, 2005-2010
**Honorable Mention 2005, 2006, 2012
**2nd Place Award 2008 - Siver Medal Exhibition, The Scarab Club, Detroit, MI, 2006, 2008
- Michigan Annual, The Art Center, Mt. Clemens, MI, 2004, 2005, 2007
- Landscape/Nature Art Show, Flint Street Gallery, Oxford, MI, 2007
**People’s Choice Award - 14th Annual Exhibition of Fine Arts, Livonia, MI
- UM-D Open Competition, Alfred Berkowitz Gallery, Dearborn, MI
- Romeo Guild of Art Exhibit, Washington Twp, MI, 2004-2011
- Romeo Guild of Art Member Exhibition, Gallery 194, Lapeer, MI
- Southeastern Michigan Portrait Show, Lake Orion, MI,
**Best of Show 2006
All images © Ken Taylor