Kelley James (b. 1970, California)
Statement
My work is not one thing and neither am I. As a lifelong creative and observer, I am fascinated by the connections I find in people, nature, and on the canvas. I love abstraction and how it shapes different interpretations.
“I hope to invoke a feeling of connection through my work and I paint to find these connections, both within and outside myself.”
Driven by this desire, my mind automatically thinks of new and different ways to create. A constant flow of ideas keep me coming back to the studio every day, and I find when I am painting, time stands still. I am also incredibly inspired by the physical and emotional work of art in itself.
I work on several pieces at the same time, moving in and out of styles. My work is an exploration of layering and removing paint, color, scraping and gouging the canvas and rich texture. I am most engaged when experimenting, discovering, and finding steady presence within the complex surface layers of paint.
Abstractions are primarily acrylic and mixed media on canvas, paper, and wood. Sometimes with clear intention, sometimes less I start each work until intuition takes over and I make a connection.
Bio
Born in 1970 in Anaheim, California Kelley currently resides and practices her art in Denver, Colorado. She is a self taught acrylic and mixed media painter. Her work is a reflection of a life spent creating. Kelley’s early years explored singing and stage. Later, that same creative energy merged into a unique floral design studio, and from there, visual merchandising, window displays and personal styling. Today, Kelley is inspired by a need to connect with the world around her, to have a voice, and to find and share deep beauty. Compositions are driven by nature, emotion, transformation, simple observations, patterns, architecture, and erosion.
Exhibitions
2022 Autumn is My Favorite Color - Juried Group Exhibit, The Framed Image, Denver CO
2022 Serene Green and Blue Too - Juried Group Exhibit, The Framed Image, Denver CO
2022 Re-Collection - Juried Group Exhibit, Center for the Arts Evergreen Colorado
2022 No Show - 6th Annual Invitational Group Exhibit, Bitfactory Gallery, Denver CO
2021 Small Works Exhibition, 40 West Gallery, Lakewood, CO
2021 You Belong Here, Juried Exhibit, Center for the Arts, Evergreen, CO
2021 Fire and Wind: All Art+ Series (Online and In-Person Exhibition), Van Der Plas Gallery, New York, NY