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At the age of 31 Dan Keplinger has been the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary, gained notoriety as an artist, appeared in a Super Bowl commercial and graduated from Towson University with a bachelor of science degree in mass communication and another in art. Dan Keplinger also has cerebral palsy.
Keplinger’s art is now on display at the Fleckenstein Gallery in downtown Towson in the collection, “Paintings and Prints by Dan ‘King Gimp’ Keplinger.” The exhibit showcases etchings, lithographs and paintings of Keplinger’s art throughout the years.
Beginning his education in specialized programs and schools for children with cerebral palsy, Keplinger spent the first few years of his life adjusting to his disease. Keplinger enrolled in a mainstream high school when he was 16, and it was then that he discovered his talent.
“It was not until I went to Parkville High that I had my first fine art class,” Keplinger said. “The teacher worked with me after school to find a way for me to be able to produce the art in my own style. After I finished my first piece, he knew I had something more to get out of me.”
Keplinger has persevered through adversities to accomplish his goals. His cerebral palsy forces Keplinger to remain in a wheelchair, and he has to use a head-stick to produce his art. Each painting takes about a week to complete, and his friends help him mix the colors. Keplinger refuses to allow his disease to be a crutch, and his self-given nickname, King Gimp, demonstrates his humor. He says people respect him and his hard work.
“Most people say portraits are the hardest things to paint, to capture the expressions, but it just comes naturally to me,” Keplinger said. “Overall, I would say people really enjoy my work and they understand what my work is about.”
Though Keplinger produces other art, most of his paintings are self-portraits – his favorite. Keplinger notes that sometimes the portraits are not simply a likeness of him.
“I have painted a lot of self-portraits; this was a way to keep track of moods as I go through life,” Keplinger said. “I started to think…what is a self-portrait? Is it just an image of one’s self or can it be things that represent yourself? So now when I’m doing self-portraits, the subjects are things that represent me from my daily life. Even though the image is not [me], people can still tell what my mood was at the time.”
Through hard work and determination, Keplinger has become a commodity of the New York art scene.
He has had several shows in New York, but Keplinger admits that it’s somewhat more exciting to have a solo exhibition in his hometown.
“I am currently having my third solo show at the Phyllis Kind Gallery in Soho, New York, at the same time as the show at Fleckenstein,” Keplinger said. “The real difference is, by having a show in my hometown, that everyone that has ever known me can come and see my work and [me].”
Keplinger said few of his peers foresaw his success.
“I can say my mom did not really expect me to graduate from college once, [let alone] twice,” Keplinger said. “[People generally react with] surprise that I can paint like I do and the subjects that I choose.”
Since the release of “King Gimp,”—a documentary based on Keplinger’s life and work—and its Academy Award winning production, Keplinger has achieved a sort of celebrity status on both the local and national levels.
Through his critical acclaim, he has been able to get his art recognized and become an inspirational speaker for disability groups; he has spent over a year doing speaking tours.
Keplinger does not deny that celebrity has affected his life.
“My artwork skyrocketed in the public eye. People are more willing to take time to understand me,” Keplinger said. “I do not know if they now realize that I do have something to say, or if what I do say just blows them away. …Inside I am still very much the same person, but it does feel good to be respected and appreciated for who I am.”
He said he hopes people who see “King Gimp” gain a new awareness not only of him, but of others with physical disabilities.
With all that Keplinger has accomplished, he refuses to slow down.
“In August, I’m heading to the University of North Carolina to start working on my master’s of fine arts,” Keplinger said. “Towson will always be my home, but…the King needs a new territory.”
Keplinger’s art will be on display at the Fleckenstein Gallery at 29 Allegheny Ave. in Towson through April 10.
For more information, call the Fleckenstein Gallery at (410) 256-8588 or the gallery's Web site at www.fleckensteingallery.com.
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