'Existence' by Keith Schmiedlin Comes to Square Cafe

Keith Schmiedlin is bringing his love of life and beauty to the walls of , where his vibrant, multi-colored pieces of art will be on display for the next month.

Kicking off the most recent collection shown at the Regent Square restaurant, entitled “Existence,” the North Hills artist is holding a grand opening exhibit this Saturday night from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The reason for the title of the show is part theme and part celebration - Saturday marks his 36th birthday.

“It’s the day I came into existence and all of my work is pretty much about existence,” he said. “Brainstorming the title of the show, I do a lot of work that deals with nature as well.”

Schmiedlin connected with Square Cafe owner Sherree Goldstein after visiting the local breakfast favorite with the mother of a friend who had been shot and killed about two years ago. He was designing a stone for his late friend and ended up planning a show at the local venue, which occurred last year.

His work also can be seen at Vanilla Pastries in Penn Circle. He had a show there about six months ago and his art remains there today.

“I have been doing art all my life,” Schmiedlin said. “A teacher saw I had a passion for art at an early age and she looked into an art school for me and then I went off to CAPA High School.”

Rather than making the move to New York City, Schmiedlin decided to stay in Pittsburgh to attend LaRoche College for design.

Schmiedlin’s work is encompassed by bright, vibrant shades of pinks, purples, greens and other pastels within a print canvas space.

“I use a flower motif and it’s sort of like a good versus evil theme,” he said of his current work. “I have a war series, but I incorporate flowers in the scene. I just use it as a metaphor.”

Right now, he is working on a 10-foot waterlily piece. He also has a butterfly series around the theme of metamorphosis.

“With my design background, I have become more graphic with a lot of bold, solid color,” he said. “A lot of my stuff I will sketch out and create compositions, but I leave a lot of energetic line in the piece.”

Schmiedlin said he wants his audience to take away a powerful feeling that acknowledges the beauty of life.

“A lot of artists touch on that note, but that’s one of the main things I want to get across,” he said.

He also wants to spread good energy throughout the community.

“I am a big believer in that,” he said. “If you are around people who have the same energy as you do, or around things that have a positive energy, you’ll be much more inclined to succeed.”

For more information, contact Schmiedlin at 412-592-8552 or at kdesign@infionline.net or visit www.schmiedlin.com.