“He yearns to create unique, unpredictable experiences, endeavors where both the artist and the recipient have a role to play.”
Jason Gargano, Cincinnati CityBeat
Kendall’s pursuit of the arts is materialized through many forms of creative expression including music, design, sculpture, photography, and video. In 3rd grade he was presented with an award for being inquisitive and immediately asked what that meant. He has not stopped asking questions.
Growing up in an Air Force family, he lived in multiple states and countries, exposing him to a variety of cultures and environments, before settling in Cincinnati, Ohio for high school. He earned a BFA at the Art Academy of Cincinnati with an emphasis in sculpture before learning to be a designer at a small family-run studio.
He moved to Chicago in 2010, where he met the founders of Freeosk, Inc., a company dedicated to helping people discover new favorites. He is named in some of their design patents.
In 2015, he founded the U.S. Pizza Museum which has a mission of inspiring curiosity and new ways of thinking about the rich history and recent devbelopments in the world of pizza by collecting, preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting pizza-related items.
His Trailsongs: Inspired by Our National Parks songwriting project will eventually take him to all 63 National Parks.
A few fun facts:
- Once voted Cincinnati’s “Best Local Artist” by the readers of Cincinnati CityBeat
- Short film, Robot Love from Another World, screened at the Cannes Film Festival
- Co-hosted a podcast called Films of the Future where he reviewed films before seeing them
“He has the unique ability to make us laugh while simultaneously prompting thought.”
Jacquelyn Vaughn, Cincinnati CityBeat
music
Kendall was a founding member of the Koala Fires.
awards & honors
2011
Best Ensemble Acting – Questionable Taste, Best of Underneath Cincinnati 2011
2010
Judges’ Choice 2nd Place – Chicago Bacon Takedown
Romance in a Can European Film Festival – Robot Love from Another World
2009
Short Film Corner – Cannes 2009 – Robot Love from Another World
Audience Choice Award – Questionable Taste, Columbus’ 48 HR Film Project
Official Selection – Robot Love from Another World, The Miami International FIlm Festival
Best Ensemble Acting Honorable Mention – Robot Love from Another World, Best of Underneath Cincinnati 2009
2008
Best Picture – Robot Love from Another World, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Best Acting – Robot Love from Another World, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Best Sound Design – Robot Love from Another World, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Best Costumes – Robot Love from Another World, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Best Use of Character – Robot Love from Another World, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Audience Choice Award – Robot Love from Another World, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Audience Choice Award – Robot Love from Another World, Underneath Cincinnati
2007
Best Screenplay – Hang in There, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Best Acting Ensemble – Hang in There, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Best Song – Hang in There, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Best Haircut – Cincinnati CityBeat
Most Original Concept – Cheese Knives, Best of Underneath Cincinnati
2006
Best Local Artist – Cincinnati CityBeat
Best Picture – All Two of Us, Chicago’s 48 HR Film Project
Producer’s Choice Award – Mustache of Lies, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Audience Choice Award – All Two of Us, Chicago’s 48 HR Film Project
Audience Choice Award – Mustache of Lies, Underneath Cincinnati
Audience Choice Award – Cheese Knives, Underneath Cincinnati
Best Use of Character – All Two of Us, Chicago’s 48 HR Film Project
Best Use of Prop – All Two of Us, Chicago’s 48 HR Film Project
Best Comic to Film Adaptation – Utter Chaos, Students of the Unusual Film Showcase
2005
Audience Choice Award – Exploded, Underneath Cincinnati
Best Music – Exploded, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
Audience Choice Runnerup – Exploded, Cincinnati’s 48 HR Film Project
2003
No. 17 on the Next Influentials Arts Rankings – Cincinnati CityBeat
2002
Hardest Working Artist in Cincinnati (Generation Next) – Cincinnati CityBeat
Kendall Bruns 