“In the 14 years of my career, I have almost never brought human characters into my work,” she says.
“But now it feels right - the human experience - specifically the human female experience for me can't be depicted by flora and fauna alone right now.
“My intention for this piece is a feeling of strength, focus, and confident, compassionate wisdom.
“One truth that burns hot is the power of plants. Beyond all the human noise and clutter, in the gritty damp soil, that's where life is. Grow them, eat them, care for them, and they will do the same in return for us.”
Working in the hot sun using locally sourced acrylic house paint, it took her four days to complete the work.
“You feel people's gratitude for what you are doing - it is adding to the pride they feel for their neighbourhood.”
She chose a colour palette of blue and gold because they allude to divinity.
Gold is associated with godliness and the rich blue can be seen in the architecture and skies throughout Greece.
“I also like to paint with colours that complement the surrounding environment, so each piece sits comfortably alongside its surroundings.”
Being out in the street day in and day out, Kelly felt she was part of the landscape and got to feel the rhythm of everyday life there — like the old man who would come past on his scooter in the early evening with a bag full of food to feed the stray cats.
She became used to locals calling out “poly oraia”, meaning beautiful in Greek.
“There's that sense of gratitude which is hugely humbling — people are so happy to have a large scale artwork out there on their street.
“To outwardly be shown appreciation for what you have done is special — I don't think you get that so much in the studio.”
Feeling the need to put down roots, Kelly moved home last year and bought a house in Kaiti which allowed her to adopt her beloved dog Pipi, a golden brown SPCA special, and plant a vege garden.
“I wanted to nest but man do I love travelling,” she says.
Her life as an artist and creator is impressive. She has worked with more than 250 clients, painted 48 murals and participated in 18 street art festivals across New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Indonesia and United States Virgin Islands.
Most of her artistic life has been spent in Wellington where she started as a graphic designer then moved to illustration, mural design and sign painting, but she always knew she would eventually return to the sunshine in Tairāwhiti.
“I was dying in the Welly weather, even though I have a huge group of inspiring and creative friends there.
“I will never live there again because I just can't handle being cold.”
She has illustrated flags, tarot cards, journals, books, album covers, blackboards, tshirts, tote bags, greeting cards, jigsaws, signage, profile pics, beer labels, wine labels, kombucha labels, web graphics, tea towels, environmental solutions and weddings.
Her graphic design work includes a promotion for tea, chocolate and olive oil. She has created posters for theatre, gigs, festivals, birds; logos for seaweed, fashion labels, bands, yoga, pilates, deodorant, honey and adventure tourism.
She has painted on walls, a boat, a fibreglass elephant and a fibreglass owl, skateboards, windows, a paella pan, a giant fridge and a bus shelter.
Kelly grew up in Matawhero and attended Makaraka School and Gisborne Girls' High School where she excelled at art and spent a lot of time in the art studio.
A bright student, she decided she wanted to be a fashion designer.
“I was really lucky to have parents who for whatever reason trusted that I knew what I was doing.”
After graduating from fashion school in Tauranga in 2002 with a diploma of drafting and design, she started her own lingerie and sleepwear brand Evergreen.
In her early 20s she discovered music festivals and travel and realised she needed a job that allowed her to see the world. She worked in wineries in Margaret River, WA, and cafés in Sunshine Beach, Queensland.
A pivotal moment came when she was travelling in Nicaragua, Central America. She met an American girl of the same age (24), who was funding her travel by working as a freelance graphic designer.
“It was a light bulb moment when I realised I could do that too.
“I could make money through my art that would allow me to travel to new places — the travel inspires the art.”
Her next two projects are creating murals in Auckland and Wellington and she is looking forward to taking part in the South Sea Spray art festival in Invercargill in December.
“I've come back feeling quite inspired — it feels good to get the energy moving again rather than just working on client projects.”
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