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In Temptation, Kettner uses abstraction to explore the limits of human understanding. The layered hues and exaggerated textures are applied with a heavy impasto (thick application of paint), implying a sense of movement, drama, and energy. The psychological dimension of Kettner’s painting invites viewers to spend additional time contemplating the veiled imagery, an active exchange that the artist wrote as being necessary for the “ultimate completion” of all his abstract work. The mix of colors and brush stroke directions, forming the semblance of human structures, encourage a self-reflective observation.
Kettner served as a preparator at the Tampa Museum of Art for nearly thirty years. An apprentice of the well-known Robert Rauschenberg, Kettner’s works have been displayed both locally and nationally.