An artist, television show host and widely recognized online celebrity, California-based American painter John Kilduff is known for his distinctive style, which can be described as a merge of Impressionism and Pop art. His paintings offer a lighthearted and relatable look at contemporary life, and feature everything from beach hats and sneakers to soup cans and beer bottles.
In 1987, Kilduff earned his BFA from the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. He also studied comedy at The Groundlings Theatre & School and the Los Angeles City College, in addition to getting his MFA from UCLA in 2008.
Kilduff came into the spotlight in 2001 when he began hosting a cable-access television show called Let's Paint TV, calling himself "Mr. Let's Paint." The show's live episodes typically involve Kilduff painting while he performs other activities, like playing ping pong, running on a treadmill or cooking. In 2006, he began uploading clips of the show to YouTube, which garnered worldwide attention. The series is now broadcast online.
Kilduff has made numerous other television appearances over the years, including the Tyra Banks Show, where he painted Banks’s portrait live. In 2006, he painted David Hasselhoff on the red carpet of the VH1 Big Awards and also appeared on season two of America's Got Talent.
Ever the entertainer, Kilduff frequently holds in-person painting shows. In 2016, a show called "Bakery" at the Daniel Rolnik Gallery in Santa Monica was designed to mimic the look of a small pastry shop and, as Kilduff created paintings of a range of sweet treats for the event, it earned comparisons to the works of sculptor Claes Oldenburg and Wayne Thiebaud.
Kilduff lives and works in Los Angeles.
On 1stDibs, find original John Kilduff oil paintings, watercolor works and more.
Eaton Canyon, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This is an old plein air oil paining I did of Eaton Canyon in Pasadena, California. I am not sure of the date but I think it's around 1995. :: Painting :: Impressionist :: This piece...
Oil
San Francisco Bay from Skyline BLVD, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Plein air oil painting of the San Francisco Bay from Skyline Blvd in Oakland, California. I am not sure the exact date but I think it was around 1995. :: Painting :: Impressionist ::...
Oil
Lemon tree in the backyard, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I have been painting this lemon tree in the backyard a lot during the quarantine. Spray paint, acrylic and oil on Canvas. If you look at the left window, you can see my portrait. :: ...
Oil
Palm perspective number 4, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
Based on the rows of palm trees that are all over Los Angeles. Oil, spray paint and acrylic on Canvas. :: Painting :: Contemporary :: This piece comes with an official certificate of...
Acrylic
Palm Perspective #5, Painting, Oil on Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
I always liked seeing the palm trees going into the horizon and thought it would be interesting to capture that feeling on a triangle shaped canvas. :: Painting :: Impressionist ::...
Oil
$2,500
H 23 in W 31 in
"Sonoma Mountain, " Fred R. Parker, California Landscape, Olive Tree Farm
Located in New York, NY
Fred Parker Sonoma Mountain, 1996 Signed, dated, and titled on the reverse Acrylic, pastel, and pencil on board 21 1/2 x 29 1/2 inches
Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Board, Pencil
$1,969Sale Price|25% Off
H 22.64 in W 27.56 in
Contemporary African Savannah Landscape, Signed and Dated 2001
Located in GB
A striking contemporary landscape capturing the vast beauty of the African savannah, signed indistinctly and dated 2001. Painted with remarkable restraint, the composition reduces t...
Acrylic, Board
$2,700Sale Price|40% Off
H 23.5 in W 29.5 in D 2 in
Carmel River Lagoon and the Santa Lucia Mountains, Point Lobos by Alfred Schroff
Located in Soquel, CA
River Lagoon with a “Carmel Meadows” free bluff in the background by Alfred Schroff (American, 1863-1939). An exceptional painting with distinct brushwork of the Carmel River mouth, ...
Linen, Oil
$1,377
H 35.44 in W 39.38 in D 0.79 in
New Stories / 3 — A Quiet Horizon Where the Landscape Becomes a Memory
By HELEN MOUNT
Located in Zofingen, AG
This painting explores a quiet, expansive landscape where space feels open and time slows down. Soft transitions of sky and land create a sense of balance, while subtle contrasts sug...
Acrylic
$2,694
H 31.5 in W 47.25 in D 0.99 in
Strawberry & Teal Nasturtiums, Contemporary Monet Style Art, Floral Painting
By Catherine Ruth Church
Located in Deddington, GB
Strawberry & Teal Nasturtiums by Catherine Ruth Church [2020] Please note that insitu images are purely an indication of how a piece may look...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$8,750
H 18 in W 24 in
Misty Landscape with Figures, Impressionist Oil on Canvas, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Lawrence Mazzanovich (American, 1872-1959) American, San Francisco, CA- Tryon, NC “Misty Landscape with Figures” Early 20th century Oil on canvas Size: 18 x 24 in. Framed: 22.5 x 2...
Canvas, Oil
$4,400
H 20 in W 20 in D 1.5 in
Clear Afternoon August Wyatt Mt - Blue Sky Mountains Virginia Landscape, 2023
By Gregory Hennen
Located in Kent, CT
The densely treed forest and mountain ledges of Hennen's Virginia home are the subject for this rich, highly detailed contemporary landscape painting in oil on panel. Recording the c...
Oil, Panel
$22,000
H 16 in W 20 in D 3 in
"COUNTRY PLACE" G. HARVEY (1933-2017) TEXAS HILL COUNTRY RANCH
By G. Harvey
Located in San Antonio, TX
G. Harvey (Gerald Harvey Jones) (1933-2017) San Antonio, Austin, and Fredericksburg Artist Image Size: 16 x 20 Frame Size: 25 x 29 Medium: Oil on Canvas Signed 1976 "Country Place" ...
Oil
Brian Blood 'Country Farmhouse Provence' painting
By Brian Blood
Located in San Rafael, CA
Brian Blood (American, born 1962) County Farmhouse Provence, 2002 Oil on canvas Initial signed lower right Titled, dated, and signed inscribed on stretcher bar verso Canvas: 20in H...
Oil
$1,800
H 9.5 in W 7.5 in
"Easton's Beach, Newport, RI" - Contemporary Oil on Board, Framed
By Stephen Motyka
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
Easton’s Beach, Newport, RI by Stephen Motyka is a luminous contemporary seascape that captures the atmosphere and rhythm of the Rhode Island coastline through expressive color and r...
Oil, Board
$675
H 15.75 in W 19.69 in D 0.79 in
In the Mountains. Zakarpattya, Impressionist Landscape, Oil on Canvas
By Oleksandr Khrapachov
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Title: “In the mountains. Zakarpattya” Artist: Oleksandr Khrapachov (b. 1981) Size: 40 × 50 cm Medium: oil on canvas Style: academism and impressionis...
Canvas, Oil
$4,800
H 22 in W 16 in
Winter Street Scene, New York City - Oil Painting on Panel by Kenneth Frazier
Located in Long Island City, NY
A New York City winter steet scene (possibly Madison Ave?) by American Impressionist, Kenneth Frazier (1867 - 1949). This oil painting on panel measur...
Oil, Panel
Above The Hollywood Bowl, Acrylic Painting On Canvas
By John Kilduff
Located in Yardley, PA
This is a beautiful one-of-a-kind original plein air painting above the Hollywoord Bowl. It is ready to hang.
Acrylic