“I was traveling 300 days a year for work. I was on a plane so much. I thought, ‘Man, I gotta get a life,’ so I started drawing on my iPad during those plane rides,” Kyle Rogers explains.
At first, it was political satire–he’d spent decades as a lobbyist in the D.C. swamp, which provided ample, rich subject matter.
During one of his frequent business trips to New Orleans, Kyle struck up a conversation with an artist who persuaded him to try painting. He returned to D.C. and began to paint, dubbing his backyard painting “studio” at his home in Alexandria, Virginia, “Outhouse Nation.”
Months later, a health scare in the form of a third-degree heart block prompted a complete re-assessment of priorities and lifestyle. In 2019, Kyle and his wife left D.C. for Birmingham.
Kyle’s artistic voice has continued to evolve since his move to Birmingham. Static imagery has given way to paintings that are so lively that they almost jump off the page.
Watching Kyle create is an experience. In less than 10 minutes, a complete scene takes shape on a large piece of tar paper. Paint brushes are dipped quickly and a bit sloppily into cans of house paint–no time is taken to wash the brushes or even change them out between colors. Marks are made intuitively. It takes a few minutes for a characterful face to emerge from the black tar paper. A man playing the saxophone. A New Orleans-esque scene full of movement.
Cowboys and Native Americans comprise much of Kyle’s subject matter. A current show at 16th Cross Pearson on 1st Ave North features scenes recalled from Kyle’s childhood in Charleston, South Carolina—churchgoers, preachers, hunters, and musicians–all Black, soulful, and full of life.
He paints on denim jackets, tar paper, cardboard, and used canvases.
Today, you can find Kyle at Crestwood Pickers, where he paints most days. He has been known to pop up around town. Recent live paintings have happened at Revival Birmingham in Forest Park. During the spring and fall Round Top shows, Kyle takes up residence in Texas, where he has found an enthusiastic following.
Fall 2024 saw him create custom paintings on denim, leather, and camo jackets. Austin-based fashion influencer Ricky Hodge purchased a vintage camo jacket that Kyle had emblazoned with the words “Pray for Peace.” Kyle’s creations were also featured in The 550 Market’s Round Top Fashion Show.