This month’s featured creator, Issis Kelly, uses her rhythmic blend of soft movements and shapes to invite viewers to lose themselves in fluid forms and immersive art experiences.
Issis Kelly, MD | Painter and Muralist
How would you describe your work?
My paintings are a rhythmic blend of soft movement and shapes you can get lost in. I use alcohol inks and acrylic inks. With a mix of abstraction and realism, each art piece invites viewers to explore and find their path within the fluid forms and vibrant colors. I am obsessed with the sense of awe generated when people create, so I truly enjoy designing art experiences, including workshops, community murals, team-building events and festivals.
What influences your art?
I’m always co-creating with the inks on my abstracts, drawing inspiration from the current colors of the season. Additionally, I’m greatly influenced by the stories of the people and places I encounter, especially when creating murals.
How have you evolved, personally, as an artist?
I was 17 when I started teaching and selling art, focusing on representative depictions of people and nature using academic techniques. During Covid, while still in my healthcare career, I discovered inks and replaced my use of acrylics. In September 2023, I decided to make art the main focus and left my healthcare job and became a full time artist. Today, I’m an Art in Medicine Artist, interested in how art can improve the quality of life by enjoying art or participating in art making. My paintings are designed to guide the viewer’s eye, convey emotions and capture attention from the frantic day-to-day to bring them into the present. My art teachings have evolved into experiences that break down academic techniques into simple steps, surprising participants when they realize they can achieve projects they never thought possible!
How do you carve out time to be creative?
I stopped creating consistently when my kids were small and my career in clinical research was all consuming, but thankfully, life has a way of rearranging itself.The most effective method to carve out time has been to have a recurring block in my calendar dedicated to studio time. This has only been possible by learning to delegate and accepting all the help I can get in other areas of life.
Do you have a favorite story behind one of your projects and why?
The Hispanic League mural is particularly special to me. I was selected to create this mural in their new office at the Intergenerational for Art and Wellness. This project connects me with my multiple identities as Latina, Dominican and North Carolinian. It was a community project that brought people together and allowed me to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our community. The mural represents all the Latin American countries, including their national flowers, offering a quick visual journey from Patagonia to the Triad. I love it when people see themselves in the mural, creating a sense of belonging and unity.
What are you working on that excites you right now?
I’m currently excited to be one of the project managers and artist leads for Creative Community Day, an Arts and Health Fair on July 27th. The festival is created by the Winston-Salem “Arts for EveryBody” initiative, which is part of a national group that includes 17 other cities having festivals on the same day. During the festival, four visual artists, including myself, will create a large-scale art piece with the community’s help. This art piece will then go on a touring exhibition among all the collaborating institutions to highlight our community’s creation!
We will offer art experiences, a kid’s area, health screenings, food and other services – all free to the public, in celebration of Winston-Salem’s commitment to healing through the arts.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with fellow artists, especially those at the start of their careers?
Connect with other artists! There are multiple ways to reach out, like joining art associations and attending local art events like the Creative Community Day or Artist Thrive Summit. Participating in Winston-Salem’s monthly Art Crush event is a great start!
If you are interested in learning more about this month’s artist, Issis Kelly, you can find her work online at IssisKelly.com as well as follow her on Instagram @IssisKellyArt. If you’d like more information about attending Creative Community Day on Saturday, July 27th from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., check out artsforeverybody.org/winston-salem-nc.
