Artist statement
Kelcey Loomer (b.1978 Rural New Hampshire, USA)
Kelcey Loomer’s artwork is an invitation into a world where memory, folklore, and imagination converge. Drawing from a deep sense of place, her narrative works are rooted in storytelling - a passion shaped by a lifelong love of picture books and novels. At the core of her work is an exploration of belonging. She approaches her mark making with an intuitive process that welcomes uncertainty and discovery, resulting in work that leaves space for unforeseen connections and mystery.
Q: How do you feel your artistic voice & style has changed over time?
A: My love of color has been with me since the beginning. Another constant has been my love of experimentation in the art-making process. I’ve always been interested in how different mediums, marks, and ideas can be layered together or used in unusual ways.
For years I edited myself, not sharing the stranger experiments and work that felt too different. I worried that showing too many mediums or directions would make me seem less serious as a fine artist.
But I trust my instincts more now. I’ve realized that my most honest work comes from a place of curiosity. This freedom has made my work feel more authentic, playful, and deeply connected to the stories I want to tell.
Q: What inspires your art?
A: Folklore is an overarching theme; Myths, cultural stories that shape us all, general symbolism that’s engrained in our culture. A sense of place is a repeating theme as well… the essence and layers that connect you to a space, whether that be a place, a relationship, etc.
Q: How do you create a balance between intuition & intention in your work?
A: My favorite parts of painting are when I’m in a flow state and my choices are coming from this place of “I don’t know why”. I balance that intuitive part of my process with a grounding period of observation, sketching, & loose planning in the beginning. I feel like my best pieces have that bit of tethering to something tangible from the observation.
Location
Ochre Rose Gallery & Studios
122 Riverside Dr.
Asheville, NC 28801
