Artist, Tori Kelley

Tori Kelley, YES!, 2017. Mixed-media piece made from some of my rejection letters for a literary project my agent had on submission. After many years and many rejections, the piece was offered a contract.

What is Creative Resilience?

It’s taking whatever life throws at you and processing it into beauty and growth. It’s learning to letting go of the pain and suffering and appreciating the joyful highs that we couldn’t experience or recognize without the difficult lows.

I’m a mixed-media artist. I love turning trash into something beautiful. The best materials are reusable ones. That’s why I like to work with found objects like net bags from produce, damaged books, newsprint, pencil sharpener shavings, waxed paper, and of course, paint and glue.

And let’s not forget my favorite—GLITTER!

You were meant to SPARKLE, baby! Throw some glitter on it!

Tori Kelley, A Garden of Words 1 2021. (Acrylic, Mixed Media) On display at the Salon Studio.

Tori Kelley, A Garden of Words 2, 2021. (Acrylic, Mixed Media) On display at the Salon Studio.

I used to think I wasn’t good enough to make art. I can’t draw and didn’t study painting (unless you count my middle school art classes). I felt like I wasn’t worthy of the visual arts scene. I’m happy to share with you that I was swallowing a lie that many of us digest, much to our upset stomachs–that art is only for the most talented, the most revered. That’s bologna. Art is for everyone! You don’t even need easels or canvases or paints to do it.

You can make art with ANYTHING! Cereal boxes make great, free canvases. You can tape or glue anything to them, color them, or crumple them up and sculpt with them. Next time you’re wrapping up a sandwich? Ball up that wax paper or plastic wrap and use it as a paint brush to apply paint or any staining liquid (beet juice works great!). Or use that wad as clay and form it into a shape that pleases or inspires you. I like to make hearts, flowers, and animals. I’ve even made a family of elephants from waxed paper that I dipped in pencil shavings, glue, and gray paints.

Long story short: Art is anything you enjoy making. Or anything that allows you to express an emotion that you don’t want to carry in your body anymore. Art is liberation. That’s Creative Resilience.

What do you want to be free from?

Hold that thought and let your hands do the rest. Then take a picture and show me what you made on my Instagram page! I’d love to see what liberates you. Talk to me @byToriKelley

Remember, the most important art is the art you make for yourself.

Tori Kelley, Gordon, the Endangered Sea Turtle, 2023. (Acrylic, Mixed Media) Sold to private buyer.

“Gordon, the Endangered Sea Turtle” is a mixed media project aimed at raising awareness of how our trash affects the oceans and marine life. I’m hoping this piece will ask the viewer to consider their own participation in reducing consumerism and recycling materials. Gordon’s shell is used waxed paper, his fins are old latex gloves, and his stomach is made from packing paper.

No materials were purchased to make any of my pieces except for the canvas they are mounted on and paint. In this way, creativity is defined by using what you already have.

Tori Kelley, All the Love, 2024. (Acrylic, Mixed Media). On display at the South Lake Art Gallery.

I’m a proud member and exhibitor at my local gallery, the South Lake Art League. My photography earned second and third place in the 2024 South Lake Fall Photography Show for my monochrome entry, A Carnevale Wedding, shot in Venice, Italy and Flying Over Italy, in the people category, shot in Sacile, Italy.

https://southlakeartleague.com/montrose-gallery/