Kelly Allen

 

When you're not creating amazing works of art, what do you enjoy doing

 

Walking around in the woods, swimming in lakes, perusing thrift stores and garage sales, watching Broad City, and eating cookies.

 

 

Who are your biggest influences

 

Marcel Duchamp, Sheila Hicks, Joseph Cornell, the artists of Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, CA.

 

 

What mediums do you enjoy working in?

 

While I love paint and color pencils in terms of traditional materials, my focus is shifting to working with reclaimed materials. We are surrounded with such a vast richness of textures, colors, forms, etc. in the form of unwanted clothes, empty boxes, unwanted books, non-recyclable plastic, an so on. I see our detritus as misplaced abundance, and I'm having a great time inventing new ways to incorporate it into my aesthetic vocabulary.

 

 

 

Where were you born? Year, Country, State. Where do you live currently

 

Born in US, Michigan. After 8 years in California, I'm currently back in Michigan.

 

 

What initially drew you to drawing pretty pictures

 

Creating is pure compulsion, an indescribable drive to produce.

 

 

Who is your favorite skateboarder, living or dead? Any ties to skateboarding

 

My favorite skateboarder is my friend, Rama. He claims to skate all the time, but I never see him do it. Hence, I have created an imaginary skateboarding version of him in my mind. He's really good. 

 

 

Who is your favorite artist, living or dead?

 

It's too hard to choose just one. Today I will say Jean Dubuffet.

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