Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Kelly.
Chris, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I got my start as a creative with REAX Music Magazine. Through the magazine, I began to design ad’s and build layouts. I’ve worked as a display artist with Urban Outfitters, a graphic designer in Chicago with different magazines, owned a gallery in Tampa called Workspace, and now live in Cape Cod where I continue working as a freelance graphic designer. I have clients across the US where I mainly focus on branding and marketing, while keeping my roots as a painter and printmaker firmly in place.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My work crosses many disciplines. When working on design projects, my work is bent to the constraints of the project, when painting, my work is looser, utilizing analog techniques. Subject matter differs from project to project, and I usually work within a body of work until I’m ready to move onto something new. I’ve been inspired by so many designers, artists, and thinkers it’s hard to know what inspires me most. I grew up skateboarding, which ended up impacting the way I approached my work in many ways. Now that I’m living on Cape Cod, I surf a lot and that has influenced my work too. I usually pull from my day to day interactions to create the work I do.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
Being an artist is like anything else. There’s plenty of opportunity, you just have to know what you’re looking for. You can literally show anywhere these days. Cafes, boutiques, retail shops… everyone is pretty open to showing work. As a graphic designer, I get to work in a lot of different ways so that’s super helpful to stay flexible and relevant Social media definitely allows everyone to have a voice and a platform to show off what they got, so if you got it, show it. Nine times out of ten, if you’re doing something from the heart with your unique voice, people will respond. Cities like Boston and the surrounding area just need to stay current… Murals are the hot now and have been for a minute… There’s always some outlet that will surface and create opportunities, you just need to be able to work in different ways and stay flexible by doing what is unique to you. I always tell younger artists to learn as much as you can, and work with as many artists as you can. Collaboration is ALWAYS key to evolving and growing.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I’ve got a couple art shows coming up this summer. 9 Ply Art Show which is Friday, August 3rd, 2018 at Artichoke in Eastham, MA. I curated this show along with Andrew Jacob. We have 40 artists from all over the US working on vintage shaped skate decks. Check it out on Instagram @9ply_artshow. I’m also in a show the next night in Wellfleet, MA, that show is called The Woodfleet Project and benefits The Wellfleet Preservation Hall. I’m always looking for new shows to be a part of and am currently working on a body of work for 2019. I’d love to work with a gallery in the Boston area. Folks can check out my work at www.heyitschriskelly.com or on Instagram at @heyitschriskelly
Contact Info:
- Website: heyitschriskelly.com
- Email: heyitschriskelly@gmail.com
- Instagram: @ heyitschriskelly
Image Credit:
Chris Kelly
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