Sonja Klingler starting one of my hot blown glass elements. ©2019
Who says it doesn't get hot here in England? We are currently wilting our way through a record-breaking heatwave. That hasn't stopped me from all manner of making that involves heat: paper burning, hot blown glass, and welding. I never thought I'd say this here, but please bring on the cool!
Read on for all the details.
New Commission: NCL Getaway
Kelly M O'Brien, Playing With Fire No. 96-102. Commissioned for Norwegian Cruise Lines Getaway. ©2019
Seven new pieces just went to the framer for Norwegian Cruise Lines Getaway. The work is being floated in brushed gold frames and will be installed into wall niches within the same public space.
With this set, I reached a fun milestone of Playing With Fire No.100. A huge thank you to Soho Myriad Art Consultants, the first to commission my burned paper series back in 2015, and for whom this project was fittingly done.
MFA Research: Hot Hot Hot
The A-Team at Devereux + Huskie Glassworks: James Devereux, Harriet Thorne, and Katie Huskie. ©2019
It's hard to believe that I'm in the final couple of months of my master's degree program. Has it really been two years already? Things are getting very real as we focus on our final assessments and Degree Show for September.
Apparently, things aren't hot enough in the studio merely burning paper, so I've spent time in two different hot glass studios and the metal workshop at school learning to weld.
Working in Sonja Klinger's (left) 49 C / 125 F degree studio, assisted by Lolita Diot-Parslow. ©2019
Over the next few weeks I'll test ideas that combine the class and metal elements in various precarious compositions and situations. You can see a hint of what's in store here. I'm also posting regular images and short videos of the work in progress in my Instagram feed.
Action shot in the metal workshop at Bath Spa School of Art. Image: Donna O'Brien
Exhibition: Sheep Spirit
Kelly M O'Brien, Object (Im)permanence No. 3 (New Cumberland) (front). Machine sewing over incised digital photographs on paper. 12 x 16.5 inches. ©2016
Several pieces from my Object (Im)permanence series will be in an exhibition comprised entirely of sheep art at Kunstverein Familie Montez, an innovative gallery and gathering space in Frankfurt, Germany.
A big thank you to my dear CKCK colleague Chris Kircher for making this possible!
Save the Date: MA Degree Show
If you're in the region, you are cordially invited to join me at the Private View for our MA Degree Show. Not only will you get a preview of lots of fabulous art and creative projects, but also an insider's tour of the brand new art school at Locksbrook Campus.
The former Herman Miller furniture factory has been completely renovated and it's gorgeous. We're so excited to be the very first cohort of art students to have our degree show there.
Current + Upcoming
Wells Art Contemporary, Wells Cathedral, Wells, BA5 2PD, UK | 20 July – 11 August, Private View: 19 July 7-9pm
Kunstverein Familie Montez, Frankfurt, Germany | 14 August – 1 September
Bath Spa Schools of Art and Design MA Degree Show, Locksbrook Campus, Locksbrook Road, Bath, BA1 3EL | 21-25 July, Private View: 20 July 6-9pm, Closing Night: 25 July 6-9pm
For more studio shots, follow me on Instagram!