(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Art House Productions presents "Billykirk: 25 Years of Art & Design", by brothers Kirkland and Chris Bray. The exhibition runs from April 5-20, 2025. BILLYKIRK is a bag and accessories company founded in 1999 in Los Angeles by the brothers. As pioneers in the Made in America movement, Billykirk has been helping support and grow the American leather artisan industry for over 25 years. In 2005, BILLYKIRK moved to Jersey City and opened a design studio/store to expand its creative partnerships.
“I’m thrilled to welcome these two visionary, entrepreneurial brothers to the gallery as they showcase their beautiful artistry. It will be a pleasure to curate not only their engaging wall art, but also their exquisite handcrafted accessories of expert craftsmanship offering timeless elegance to be cherished for a lifetime,” says Gallery Director, Andrea McKenna
Always made in the USA with the finest materials, BILLYKIRK is dedicated to crafting enduring goods with timeless design. They blend traditional craftsmanship with modern functionality to create items that enrich everyday experiences, fostering a deep relationship between their customers and the artistry of purpose-built items.
BILLYKIRK has collaborated with numerous brands including Vans, Levis, Intelligentsia Coffee, The Noguchi Museum, GQ, The Ace Hotel, and Target. Their products have appeared in movies and television and have been featured in many fashion-related periodicals.
In 2024 they launched Bray Brothers Creative, their B2B division to help elevate ordinary branded materials into extraordinary statements of a brand’s identity and purpose.
A public reception will be held on Saturday, April 5th from 3:00pm to 6:00pm and an Artist Talk will take place on Sunday, April 13th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. The gallery will be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. Private viewings can be arranged by contacting [email protected].
Kirkland Bray is a painter and mixed-media artist best known for his paintings depicting overwhelming crowds within serene environments. The idea of overpopulation, perhaps in the planetary sense, or even a result of social media oversharing by prior visitors could be taken as serious societal commentary, or as comedic mockery. Kirkland often uses unnatural dye patterns on discarded canvas as backdrops for these paintings and identifies Dada art as a direct influence, especially for its existence as a reaction to society at the time.
Chris (C.T.) Bray is an entrepreneur, designer, and assemblage artist. He is the co-founder of BILLYKIRK, a US-based bag and accessories company started in 1999. C.T. has contributed articles for Home+Table, Shop Talk, New Jersey Digest, Atlas, and for the book "The United States of Americana."
C.T. has been a sculptor and assemblage artist for nearly 25 years. He has shown work at the New Hope Arts Center, Phillips' Mill, and various galleries in California, New York, and New Jersey. He enjoys breathing new life into often-humble objects, combining them with other materials, and reimagining their purpose. When complete, these objects have a renewed form. They are ready for their second act.
Accessibility - Large-print materials and tactile, descriptive tours are available upon request. For more information, please contact Andrea McKenna at [email protected].
Art House Productions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located at 345 Marin Boulevard in Jersey City, is dedicated to advancing the performing and visual arts in Jersey City, NJ. Through theater productions, visual art exhibitions, and community programs, Art House fosters creativity and accessibility in all forms.
Art House Productions is grateful for support from Hudson County Cultural Affairs, the Exchange Place Alliance, RWJ Barnabas, NJ State Council on the Arts, HDSID, Jersey City Economic Development Corporation, Jersey City Health and Human Services, Panepinto Properties, Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund, SILVERMAN, Super Buy Rite, Tito’s, and many other generous donors and sponsors.
