Kelli Hoppmann
B. 1963
American
Abelcontemporary.com/kelli-hoppmann
Kelli Hoppmann depicts fantastical allegories through her art, exploring themes of love, lust, pathos, sin, and contrition. Her exquisitely painted dream-like characters often float against a solid background creating mood and mystery in her scenes. The human and animal worlds merge, reminding us that we are interconnected, have primal needs, and perhaps even share particular characteristics.
Hoppmann’s piece, She Wore the Same Thing Every Day, was commissioned by Davis Riemer and Louise Rothman-Riemer in 2017 to address cultural concepts about wealth, the dynamics of social structures, and the complexities of personal relationships. Collaged from an actual hundred-dollar bill set against silver leaf, the dress is also a nod to Hoppmann’s interest in fashion as a status symbol. Like many of Hoppmann’s paintings, her narrative scene lends itself to an array of interpretations and storytelling.
Hoppmann graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1985 and co-founded the artist collective Artbite, which operated between 1990-2000. She has exhibited at the Wisconsin Academy, Wisconsin Museum of Art, Kohler Artspace, and her work is in numerous private collections. She is represented by Gallery 360 in Minneapolis, MN, and Abel Contemporary in Stoughton, WI. Hoppmann currently lives and works in Madison, WI.
