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Kelly O'Brien

Stitch Study 9

Paper and thread. Unframed - framing options available upon request.
Artwork size: 22 x 22cm
Delivery within 1-2 weeks.

About the artist

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Kelly O’Brien is an American mixed media artist who lives and works near Bath, England. Kelly is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Art at Bath Spa University. Throughout two international moves, Kelly has maintained a disciplined pursuit of her art education, all the while building a steady record of exhibitions and collectors, including work placed in over twenty public collections to date. She creates large-scale bespoke versions of her Playing With Fire series for projects around the world including Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Kimpton Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Taj Hotels, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and more.

Kelly works primarily with paper, attracted to its paradoxical qualities of ephemeral strength. Even when manipulated in seemingly destructive ways - scoring, burning, sewing into, tearing, repairing - what emerges is often more interesting and beautiful than the original form. She is interested in how her materials can transform and reinvent themselves into something new, not unlike an adult who continues to learn and grow – coming full circle in her work from the earlier career.

On the subject of this stitched series, in Kelly's own words:
'I have always loved the simple beauty of stitching into paper, something I first learned in book binding and the book arts. 

'These pieces are machine stitched free hand, without a preconceived design, much like sketching. The results are often unexpected, especially when the materials start to transform into something interesting and unforeseen.

'While working on this series, I have been thinking about resilience, repair, and transformation - all relevant themes for our contemporary moment. The process is meditative and grounding, helpful during a year when much has felt out of our control. I love the promise and honesty of visible mending, even in materials as simple as paper and thread.'

£125.00

Plus £10 for UK delivery

Paper and thread. Unframed - framing options available upon request.
Artwork size: 22 x 22cm
Delivery within 1-2 weeks.

About the artist

+
Kelly O’Brien is an American mixed media artist who lives and works near Bath, England. Kelly is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Art at Bath Spa University. Throughout two international moves, Kelly has maintained a disciplined pursuit of her art education, all the while building a steady record of exhibitions and collectors, including work placed in over twenty public collections to date. She creates large-scale bespoke versions of her Playing With Fire series for projects around the world including Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Kimpton Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Taj Hotels, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and more.

Kelly works primarily with paper, attracted to its paradoxical qualities of ephemeral strength. Even when manipulated in seemingly destructive ways - scoring, burning, sewing into, tearing, repairing - what emerges is often more interesting and beautiful than the original form. She is interested in how her materials can transform and reinvent themselves into something new, not unlike an adult who continues to learn and grow – coming full circle in her work from the earlier career.

On the subject of this stitched series, in Kelly's own words:
'I have always loved the simple beauty of stitching into paper, something I first learned in book binding and the book arts. 

'These pieces are machine stitched free hand, without a preconceived design, much like sketching. The results are often unexpected, especially when the materials start to transform into something interesting and unforeseen.

'While working on this series, I have been thinking about resilience, repair, and transformation - all relevant themes for our contemporary moment. The process is meditative and grounding, helpful during a year when much has felt out of our control. I love the promise and honesty of visible mending, even in materials as simple as paper and thread.'


More work from Kelly O'Brien