Gallery on Greene, 606 Greene St., will feature the photography of Kenneth W. Davis at a show entitled, “There’s a Stranger in Our Midst,” which opened with an artist’s reception on Jan. 17.
After a high-profile career in New York as a graphic designer for “The Late Show with David Letterman,” MTV, and ESPN, Davis transitioned to a second chapter in counseling and art therapy.
Now retired in Key West, he has returned to his original creative roots after a 35-year hiatus. This exhibit marks his first photography show in 35 years, featuring work created after retirement.
Davis grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and earned a liberal arts degree with a photography minor from Louisiana State University. After backpacking in Europe, he moved to New York to attend Parsons, shifting from photography to graphic design while freelancing by day and studying with working Manhattan designers at night.
His first major break came when substitute teacher Bill Kobasz of Reliable Design offered him part‑time work after graduation, soon becoming full‑time. Working alongside Kobasz — who handled clients like Alexander Julian, the International Center of Photography, Lifetime, MTV, Showtime, Sony Music and the Whitney Museum — gave Davis an intimate, hands‑on education in entertainment design.
“Bill remains the most talented designer and photographer I’ve ever known, and I owe him a great deal for the discipline and detail he instilled in me,” Davis said.
In the pre‑computer era, every layout was built by hand, often late into the night.
In 1992, he founded Devious Design, attracting clients such as Greenpeace USA, Atlantic Records, Speedvision, Donna Karan New York, CBS and ESPN, where he helped shape the original ESPN the Magazine and X Games design. His work led to a two‑year role as senior graphic artist for “The Late Show with David Letterman” before returning full‑time to Devious.
During the Dot‑Com boom, Davis moved to Moss Beach near Half Moon Bay, continuing work with ESPN and Speedvision while enjoying life with his dog, Caleb. After 9/11 slowed New York work, he began developing High Tides Magazine, building it from scratch with his own photography and securing early support from the Ritz‑Carlton and the Half Moon Bay Chamber of Commerce.
High Tides Magazine became an award‑winning success, but after two years Kenneth stepped away, facing burnout and long‑standing addiction issues. He entered treatment in 2006 and has remained sober since. Early sobriety led him to work with adolescents in recovery, then to graduate studies at Hazelden Betty Ford and later Adler Graduate School, where he combined counseling with art therapy. Davis went on to serve in dual‑diagnosis treatment, married Mandy Margol, and together they founded Sweet Emotions Counseling in Arkansas, running the practice for 13 years. In 2021 they returned to Key West, where they now enjoy a quieter life with their dog, Shiloh.
