Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Kelly.
Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Jessica Kelly and I am a visual artist from Charlotte, North Carolina. I have had a love and passion for the arts since I was a young girl. My childhood was spent drawing and painting pictures of my favorite cartoons. My love for art became prominent in pre-k where arts and crafts were my favorite part of the day. I created non-representational drawings like “Scribble art “, using line, shape, and color.
Since I was accustomed to creating non-representational pieces I continued creating abstract paintings and sometimes optical illusions using the human figure. As I grew up, I began taking my craft more seriously. I started creating more art and decided to pursue my passion for art by attending the illustrious North Carolina A&T for my B.A. in Media Design. After undergrad, I decided to further my education in art by attending THE Howard University in Washington, DC to obtain my MFA in fine arts Painting.
During my time in grad school, I worked on perfecting my craft and started entering into art exhibitions, teaching visual art, and creating public art murals in my free time. I also spent my time discovering who I am as an artist and the positive impact art can have on the world. Through my art, I am able to tell stories, connect with my community, and record history through meaningful images.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
“The path less traveled is not always an easy one”.
As a young African American female artist, I have faced many challenges in the pursuit of following my passion for art. One of the challenges I faced was deciding to further my education in visual arts. There were many people who didn’t believe in the art to be a realistic career choice and tried to sway my decision in attending North Carolina A&T for my Bachelors of Arts degree. After graduating from undergrad, I was faced with another challenge by deciding to further my education hundreds of miles away from home in Washington, DC to attend Howard University.
While at Howard, I pursued my Masters of Fine Arts- Painting degree while going through financial hardships. This experience forced me to make the best of what I had, expand my creative process, and my perspective as an artist. “To create something out of nothing”. With limited funds for art supplies, I was still able to create art that was meaningful to my experience and that was a testament to my determination to create no matter what my circumstances were.
I continued to push myself by entering into many exhibitions that often took me out of my comfort zone. My journey in pursuing my dreams has always been a challenge that I am eager to take on. I will continue to create meaningful images that not only express my experience but also allow me to be able to connect with others with similar experiences.
We’ve been impressed with I am the CEO of Jessica Kelly LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am an entrepreneur that specializes in visual art services such as Murals, Paint n Sips, Art classes, and Commissioned visual art projects. I have taught art at the African American Atelier Art Gallery, in youth mentor programs, and as an art teacher at an elementary school. Teaching art is a huge passion of mine because it is a way to give back to the community.
I teach art as a tool to express one’s self and to learn about the history and the perspective of others. What sets me apart from others is my unique experience and the way I chose to depict images through color/processes. I am most proud of how my art makes people feel. Many people feel connected to my Art because my art tells a story.
I put a lot of myself and emotion into my work that people can feel. You can find my artwork and services on my website Jessicakelly.art and on my Instagram @jesskelly23.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons I learned was to “Take a chance” and to be consistent. I am glad that I decided to follow my heart and pursue art because it makes me happy and brings me peace. I was afforded many opportunities by working hard and following my passion. I am able to have a career that helps others and makes me happy at the same time.
Contact Info:
- Email: Jckellyart@gmail.com
- Website: Jessicakelly.art
- Instagram: @jesskelly23
