From the Butler Institute regarding Ron Kleemann:

"Born in Bay City, Michigan in 1937, Ron Kleemann studied architecture and design at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Kleemann has been recognized as one of the major artists of the Photorealism movement. His photorealistic paintings and works on paper have been exhibited in prestigious galleries and museums throughout the world, including the Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago); New York Cultural Center; Tokyo Metropolitan Art Gallery; Museum of Modern Art; Guggenheim Museum (New York); and the Indianapolis Museum (Indiana). His works are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and Whitney Museum of American Art, and numerous other museums and institutions nationwide.

            According to Butler Director Dr. Louis Zona, "Ron Kleemann has been a major figure in American realist art since the 1960s. The Butler is truly honored to host these spectacular paintings of a theme that has long been associated with the artist. This is one exhibition that will appeal to everyone."

            The Photorealist movement, of which Kleemann is a pivotal figure, began in the late 1960s. It was the new camera derived painting, and included scenes painted in a style that closely resembled photographs. The true subject of a Photorealist's work is the transformation of photographs into paintings - creating a new hybrid art form. Photorealists strove to incorporate the peculiar qualities of their photographic source by including stop action, close-ups, extreme foreshortening, hyper reflections, and sparkling luminosity in their paintings.

            This Butler exhibition of Kleemann's large scale oil on canvas works reflect the artist's long time interest in automobiles as subject and as an American icon. In 1977,1978 and 1979, Kleemann was selected by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation to create the Indianapolis 500 Official Fine Art Commemorative Lithograph. ..."

            This exhibition was organized by the Butler with assistance from Louis Meisel Gallery, New York City.