Meet Charles Rice of KULA Gallery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Rice.

Charles Rice, creator of ArtbyRice, is a native of Louisville, KY. An urban artist whose original concepts and styles represent the diversity and uniqueness of today’s urbanesque market. Charles, whose vision is to paint the world as he saw it, developed his talent at an early age. With a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Kentucky, his unique style and contemporary flare allowed him to be one of few undergrad fine arts students to have a solo art exhibition at the University of Kentucky. With professional training include design experience working with Disney, Charles has not only won numerous local and national awards for his contemporary urban paintings and illustration. As an independent artist, his original works have been showcased in the prestigious New York Art Expo and in the Oprah Winfrey Annual Art Exhibition.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Just like any business owners, I have encountered many struggles along the way trying to build my brand and business. The most recent struggle was ensuring my business survived the rioting and looting in downtown Louisville, KY, during the injustice for the killing of Breonna Taylor.

Please tell us about KULA Gallery.
The KULA Gallery is a contemporary 3,150-square foot Black-Owned art gallery and event venue located in the heart of downtown Louisville. I am the owner and resident artist of the gallery. We specialize in contemporary art, created by myself and other local artists in the Kentuckiana area. We are known for our Melanin Art Series, where an art exhibition that highlights urban professionals captured on a canvas painting by myself (Charles Rice).

We are one of two African American art galleries in Louisville, but what sets us apart from the rest is that we offer an event space that provides a certain vibe like no other. In addition, we have created the KULA Gallery Summer Art School for kids/teens. Unfortunately, do to COVID-19, we were unable to host our art school this summer.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory was winning the middle school science fair at Meyzeek Middle school (Louisville, KY). I stepped outside the box and created a project made solely out of art.

Pricing:

• $359 – 18×24 Custom ArtbyRice Personal Mounted Canvas Portrait
• $599 – 24×36 Custom ArtbyRice Personal Mounted Canvas Portrait
• $99 – 48×60 Custom ArtbyRice Personal Mounted Canvas Portrait

Contact Info:

• Address: 536 S 4th Street
  Louisville, KY 40202
• Website: www.ilovekula.com
• Phone: 502-265-6252
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @ilovekulagallery
• Facebook: @ilovekulagallery
• Other: www.artbyrice.com

Image Credit:
Joe Goodwin

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