Check out Corey Godfrey’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Corey Godfrey.

Corey, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have always had my hands in art materials, even since I was little and coloring on the walls of my family’s duplex. Since then, I vowed to never leave a wall blank and to have as much color around me as possible.

I was born in Germany and moved around a lot as a kid because both of my parents were in the military. So I feel that art for me yields that sense of “home” that I am always seeking out. After attending art school at the University of North Texas for a few years, I started to experiment with “craft” materials that definitely give me that nostalgia that I look for. Yarn in particular is a material that I became obsessed with as it is colorful, has a great sense of animation, but also comfort and stability.

My subject matter has always been females. That came about from my own sense of self, feelings towards feminism and showcasing the strength and beauty in all women. This is something that I also focus on in my day job. Having been in the beauty industry for 12 years, I feel lucky to be able to see the beauty in others and focus on helping women see that in themselves.

I have lived in Dallas for ten years and now have two beautiful boys and an amazing husband. My goal now as a mother is to show my children that they can color the world around them, just like I did growing up.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Initially, I had a dream about a piece of artwork, using yarn, and when I woke up, I had to recreate it. This has been the case for many of my pieces. I found there to be this sociological norm between yarn and gender roles being that the material is generally associated with “female” crafts. So, it felt natural to use yarn to create portraits celebrating women. The material is flexible, adaptable and strong, like women, and I allow it to draw the figures in each of my pieces.

My art reveals a sense of vulnerability, angst and desire all while utilizing the material to its core. I feel that the women exemplified in all of my works are intensified further by using yarn as my medium.

In my most recent series, I have sought to reveal the correlation between female strength and the evolution of nature, as reflected in geodes, cacti, and flora and fauna, all of which endure immense environmental obstacles to reveal their true forms.

How can artists connect with other artists?
I think it is important to find an art community that you can connect with. I am so fortunate that after graduating from art school, I was able to connect with the artist community at Kettle Art in Deep Ellum. The owner and fellow artist, Frank Campagna gave me a place to continue to develop my art, collaborate, curate, and gain friendships. It is places like Kettle Art that keep the arts community thriving in Dallas and give an artist a sense of belonging.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I often show my work around the Dallas area but welcome any interested collectors to contact me directly. Check out my website and social media outlets for updates.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.coreygodfreyart.com
• Email: coreyamandagodfrey@gmail.com
• Instagram: @coreygodfreyart
• Facebook: facebook.com/coreyagodfrey

Image Credit:
Cole Moulton

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