Venice, California-based artist Kenny Harris has developed a captivating series of oil paintings that transform the humble Italian coffee maker into works of art. His ongoing still-life collection focuses on the iconic moka pot, using its metallic, faceted surface as inspiration for exploring color, form, and the intricate play of light and reflection.
The moka pot itself has a rich history dating back to 1933, when Alfonso Bialetti and his son Renato began marketing their aluminum coffee-brewing contraption that would leave an indelible mark on Italian culinary culture and beyond. Named after the Yemeni city of Mokha, this steam-powered, filterless appliance is still manufactured today by the Bialetti coffee equipment company under the name Moka Express, providing coffee lovers with a traditional stovetop brewing method that produces a rich, flavorful brew.
Harris's artistic approach centers on the reflective qualities of these metallic coffee makers, capturing how light dances across their surfaces. His paintings showcase delicate gradients and intricate patterns that mirror across the pot's surface, sometimes creating such realistic effects that the boundary between the actual object and its surroundings becomes beautifully blurred. Through his masterful use of oil paints, Harris demonstrates how everyday kitchen objects can become subjects of extraordinary artistic beauty.
"I find delight in searching for harmonies, lost edges, and texture variation," Harris explains about his artistic process. "In the end, these are color experimentations in the tradition of Joseph Albers or Albert Moore: reiteration of the same forms with different color combinations. Also, I love coffee." This combination of technical skill and personal passion shines through in each carefully crafted piece, where the artist's appreciation for both the aesthetic and functional qualities of the moka pot is evident.
Harris's work continues the tradition of master colorists, drawing inspiration from renowned artists who explored how different color combinations can transform the same subject matter. Like Joseph Albers, who was famous for his systematic study of color interaction, and Albert Moore, known for his harmonious color palettes, Harris uses repetition and variation to investigate the endless possibilities that color relationships can offer.
The art world is taking notice of Harris's unique approach to still-life painting. A solo exhibition titled "Passage" is scheduled to open on September 6 at Galerie Mokum in Amsterdam, giving international audiences the opportunity to experience these striking works in person. Additionally, Harris is currently preparing for another solo show slated for early 2026 at Billis Williams Gallery in Los Angeles, bringing his coffee-inspired art back to his home base on the West Coast.
For those interested in exploring more of Harris's work, his complete portfolio can be viewed on his official website and Instagram account, where he regularly shares both completed paintings and glimpses into his creative process. His moka pot series represents not just technical mastery of oil painting techniques, but also a celebration of how art can find beauty and meaning in the most familiar objects of daily life.
