Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Kennedy.
Claire, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and lived there until 2019. As a child, I was always daydreaming, very much existing in a world of my creation. As a result, I was always interested in drawing, painting, and creating by any means possible. This quickly became my passion, and I knew that I would eventually pursue art in some way. I began attending the University of Cincinnati in 2014, graduating with my Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2018. In the year following, I worked as a gallery attendant at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Being surrounded by art history every day only reinforced how deeply I wanted to be a part of this world. I applied for graduate schools all over the country, and having visited Fort Worth in the summer of 2018 (as well as longing to move somewhere warmer), I was drawn to move south. Moving to Denton last year to attend the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of North Texas felt like a breath of fresh air, presenting me with a new home and challenge I was ready to take on. Thus far, it has definitely been challenging but also incredibly rewarding. I have met countless supportive fellow artists/friends and have been presented with the opportunity to teach drawing classes in the Foundations program at UNT. Although difficult to be far from family, leaping moving to Texas has been one of my best decisions thus far.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Coming from a family of mostly engineers, pursuing a career in fine arts was a little outside the norm. Though the people I love have ultimately supported me, I think there are always going to be those that will doubt you or question your choices no matter what you do. Having to continuously justify life as an artist can be draining. However, I’ve tried to shift these doubts into energy to keep going after my goals. I think my friends would describe me as an overly positive person, so I try to take things in stride as they come. Life is too short to get wrapped up in the negatives, right?
Please tell us about your work.
In my current work, I am focused on taking my knowledge of traditional painting and transforming it into new forms. I am slowly becoming more object-focused, thinking of painting as more than just a means to present a two-dimensional image. I utilize bright, saccharine colors as well as mark making that could be considered childlike in nature. My process is haphazard, constantly deconstructing and reframing old work with found materials and paint to create new pieces. I enjoy having a practice that is in constant ebb and flow, quickly moving from one idea to the next. Teaching undergraduate drawing classes in conjunction with making work has been beneficial, as I often feel that advising my students to expand beyond conventional ideas of drawing reinforces my motivation to do the same.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood
My favorite memories from childhood often involve any situation in which I had the opportunity to create with family. My dad has always been a wonderful chef, and I was so ecstatic during any moment he shared his knowledge of food with me and allowed me to help with dinner. I still love cooking and call him whenever I need advice on a dish I’m making. On the otherhand, my mom has always had an incredible green thumb, curating lovely little fairy gardens in pots and throughout the yard. We would sit on the deck and paint rocks to decorate them, and I remember loving the way she painted flowers so delicately. She always grew huge bundles of forget-me-nots that I would occasionally pick and arrange into tiny glass vases for the kitchen table. I now have a forget-me-not tattoo on my arm in memory of those moments!
Contact Info:
- Website: clairekennedyart.com
- Email: clairekennedy0220@gmail.com
- Instagram: clairekenn6
Image Credit:
Claire Kennedy
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