Meet Kelly-Anne Davitt | Artist and Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly-Anne Davitt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelly-Anne, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I was a child I used to draw all the time, Disney characters, people, pets etc. My Mum and Dad always supported me and I was told from a young age that I was an artist. I first painted when I was 16 and knew then, that this is what I wanted to do as a career. It was less of a thought process, more just what I was always going to do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

My paintings are a fusion of contemporary pop influences and traditional painting values, often described as hyperreal. They can be very labour intensive, an example of this is my Raindrops on Conkers, oil on circular board. It took many many layers of paint. I do tend to delight in the details. It makes me happy as the illusion of solid form progresses.

I like to idealise the imagery through painting, colours become more vibrant, forms become more perfect and shiny. This is a reflection of my interest in advertising. I love the perfect ideals advertising often presents us with. I feel there is a sinister nature behind this facade. This is something I like to revel in.

Vibrant colour is central to my artistic practice. I have spent many years honing in on my perfect set of oil paints. Choosing the most bright and opaque colours. I love to build up colours to be rich, opaque and luminous.

I also make text light sculptures which reinforce the ideas in my paintings. For instance the Formula for Perfect Breasts is an animated light sculpture using circus lights. This accompanied a series of paintings called Beach Balls and Melons, which explored representations of the female nude in media.

One of my proudest moments was a feminist exhibition I curated called The Most Powerful Woman in the Universe, it was held in London at Gallery 46. The show brought together eight important women artists. I am currently organising a group show for next year, I am very excited about this.

Of course my journey has not always been easy. I do have a great support network in my family, friends and work colleagues. It is very important to surround yourself with people who are positive, understanding and encouraging.
I think it is also important not to give yourself too much of a hard time when you make a mistake. Just learn the lesson, brush yourself off and carry on. Perseverance in the face of adversity etc.

I have learned about authenticity. It is key to a successful art practice. It can sometimes be hard, one can sway off the right path a little with all the pressures of life.

I intend to bring colour, optimism and opulence into the world.
In my upcoming curated group exhibitions I would like to elicit change.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live next to a nature reserve called Wanstead Flats, it is the beginning of Epping Forest. It is really beautiful and full of wildlife. I would definitely take them for a long walk and end up in a favourite pub for fish and chips.

The Wallace Collection which is near Bond Street station in central London, I love the Fragonard and Greuze oil paintings.

Dinner at the Dark Horse restaurant, I recently went there for a friends birthday. It is in the Olympic Village in Stratford, east London. The food is modern Italian and delicious. They also make a great Aperol Spritz, which always gets my vote.

God’s Own Junkyard is a great place to visit, full of neon signs and the cafe serves great hot chocolate.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to dedicate this shout out to my partner Sally. We have been together for 17 years and in those years I have felt really happy with the art I have produced. Sally is always there by my side cheer leading me, even when times have seen bleak. She would make an excellent life coach, I am very lucky.

Website: www.kellyannedavitt.com

Instagram: kelly_davitt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellyanne.davitt/