Today we’d like to introduce you to L. Kelly Lyles.
Hi L. Kelly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Life (beside politics) is lots of fun, I hope viewers will share that in my work.
I’m an exhibiting artist since 1981, but “full time” since the 1990’s (known equally for painting, Artcars, colourful clothing, and networking for the arts), with various styles/media, all based on representational art steeped in years of classical training. There’s usually an element of humour, especially in these trying times we need laughter!
I’ve had an exciting life, growing up all over the world thanks to a father in the International division of 3M company. I continue to travel regularly, and have been in charge of 5 International art delegations in the last 5 years, forging alliances in China, Eastern Europe, Cuba, and the last was to South Africa for the Cape Town Art Fair.
I’m also involved in the ARTCAR movement. We decorate and embellish (painting, sculpting and sometimes welding) our vehicles, so they are rolling canvases of the ultimate ‘public art’. My Leopard Bernstein (named after the famous Composer) has been featured in film, television, magazines, newspapers and books. Currently I drive a beaded artcar TANDA TULA homage to South Africa. My last one (still on the road) is the EXCESSORIES ODD-YSSEY, a Honda Van covered with women’s fashion accessories (jewelry, purses, shoes, belts, sunglasses and more) and a magnetic paper-doll of myself on the hood (with various interchangeable outfits from my own closet). We go on artcar caravans, traveling en masse (with frequent stops at outsider-art installations) to appear in parades and exhibits around the U.S.
My studio, home and Artcars have been featured in numerous television shows and magazine/newspaper articles. A bibliography would include Harrod Blank’s 2 ‘Artcars’ books and his documentary, AUTOMORPHOSIS. Publications include WEIRD WASHINGTON book, local, national (NY Times) and world newspapers (South African, Italian) and magazines (WOMAN’S WORLD, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS, etc). National Television (TRAVEL channel, DISCOVERY, ODYSSEY Network, HGTV), International (Canada’s WEIRD WHEELS) & local television (NW AFTERNOON, EVENING MAGAZINE), local news, local, national and international radio.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’d say primary challenges are ageism of an industry that favours the ‘new’, and tech.
In the “old days”, you had one job: Art.
Now you are the artist, the bookkeeper, the web-designer, the marketer, bill-collector & chauffeur (a career in the arts seems to be as much delivery driver as physical art-maker. I was in 14 shows last month, more schlepping than painting). Plus being an oldster am not exactly a luddite, but computers & the web aren’t my forte, so we either have to create our own websites – and worse, MAINTAIN them – or hire someone, which is expensive to keep timely (new series, or venues exhibiting, whatever needs to be changed over the months/years).
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’d say my humour sets me apart, I love visual word-play and puns (my RODENTS series is MICE-A-RONI, BENSON & HEDGEHOGS, GHERBIL TEAS, etc).
But, caveat: also think that playfulness valued more in some regions of the country than others, maybe related to sunshine (ha)? I think my ‘taste’ runs more to the California art scene, where colour & laughter seem a more frequent component.
I am most proud of my sense of community, for 25 years I’ve run a free arts listserve, forwarding 600 subscribed WA artists news all day long: shows, residencies, calls, materials give-aways or studios for rent, anything and everything as long as there’s a visual art component. With so much physical media and arts coverage gone, my contribution is relatively low-tech, but one of the only “games in town” for getting the word out…
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Thanks for reading, and if you want to see more of my own work, my website’s www.kellyspot.com
Pricing:
- $15-$800
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kellyspot.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lkellylyles
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/L.kellylyles
