Kelly Witmer
Kelly Witmer’s work encompasses multiple mediums and yet they all interact with each other. Between painting two dimensional works, creating sculptures and ceramics and public art, she does a lot.
Her paintings are abstract and express control, which influences her sculptures and ceramics. In turn, she has expanded what her art can communicate by applying it to public spaces. We asked her a few questions to learn more about her and her work.
Briefly introduce yourself.
I was born in rural Pennsylvania, and grew up in several small towns, and then went to art school at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. About a year after graduation, after a winter of lots of snow, I decided to move somewhere warm. I ended up in LA, and as they say, “never looked back”.
“I think the connecting thread with some these artists is that they are/were constantly experimenting and exploring new mediums or subject matter.”
Tell us, who are your favorite artists? What influences your art?
Where to begin?
I follow and admire so many artists online these days, but to list some old classics: Kiki Smith, David Hockney, Jim Dine, Georgia O’Keefe, Henry Moore. I think the connecting thread with some these artists is that they are/were constantly experimenting and exploring new mediums or subject matter.
How to balance splitting your time from LA to Joshua Tree?
I was lucky enough to buy an old run-down place on foreclosure in Joshua Tree when Airbnb was getting started, so I was able to support myself by renting out my place in LA, yet still be able to come spend time there between rentals. It was a lot of work, but a great opportunity.
I’m now in the process of making the move out to the desert full time. I love LA, but it can be pretty hectic. I find that I’m happier out in the desert with the beautiful vistas and light. Plus, there is an ever-growing new population of artist transplants in the area, and I feel like I’m in a supportive community.
We really love your ceramic sculptures. Can you guide us through your process of creating them?
I started working in ceramics pretty much by chance—a friend owed me some money and traded his old kiln instead. So I started experimenting here and there over the past 7 years or so, making small batches of hand-built pieces for fun, mostly functional. Then I eventually started making more sculptural pieces, expanding on the imagery of my two dimensional abstract paintings.
Now it’s become something that I jump back and forth with—looking at paintings when making the ceramic work, and vice versa. My brain mostly works in 2D and struggles with 3D—rather than stick with what feels comfortable, I like to force my head into new places to see what happens.
How does your ceramic sculpture influence your art and functional ceramics?
While much of the art world looks down on functional ceramics, I can’t help but think they are still relevant. Vessels were probably the first creative outlet for humans, even before cave paintings.
A lot of my functional pieces end up repeating shapes and lines from my paintings and sculptures, which sometimes I’m not even aware of.
How did you get started on creating public art? What are some tips you like to share with artists who want to get into this form of art?
I got started with public art years ago, when I heard about an open call in my neighborhood. I applied, and did one of a series of bus stop murals in the Echo Park area of LA. Later I did another neighborhood project in Eagle Rock, doing mosaics for trash cans, and later got a commission for a ceramic tile series in Santa Rosa.
I keep an eye out on publicartist.org, as there are many open calls all of the time. I apply to a lot, but it’s a very competitive world. Most are either paying a few thousand or less, or in the $75,000- 250,000 range, and it’s extremely hard to make the leap from one to the next. I’ve spent a lot of time writing proposals only to be rejected, but it’s a learning experience.
An amazing book on this subject is “The artist’s guide to public art” by Lynn Basa. I first took it out of the library, but ended up buying a copy, as I go back to it often. It’s very inspiring and helpful.
What’s next for you? Where is your art is going next? Any exhibition in the future?
Good question! I spent the last year shuffling around a lot, spending five months in Mexico. During that time I was restricted to working small, so lately I’ve been making bigger paintings and and working on ideas for bigger sculptures as well. I recently took a class on glass casting, and want to experiment further with glass sculptures.
In February I’m having a solo show at Eye Bath in Joshua Tree ( 61675 Twentynine Palms Highway, Unit 2, Joshua Tree, CA 92252 ).
Interview by Diane Lindquist