Meet the Artist
My name is Kelly Farrell, I'm a Mixed Media Artist and Interior Designer from Rhode Island.
I am a graduate from Moore College of Art and Design Philadelphia, PA with a BFA in Interior Design. I have over 3 decades of experience as an Interior Designer, working in residential and commercial design. Earlier, focusing on corporate offices and healthcare while later in the hospitality industry.
Starting Kelly Farrell Art and Design, has been my bridge back to my love for art. Working with familiar mediums and growing with newer methods that I enjoy.
My Art Specialty
My Art specialty is mixed media, made primarily from wallcovering, fabrics and specialty finishes you’d find in design libraries.
As an Interior Designer I was drawn to these beautiful patterns and textures. Being limited in the quantity I could specify for projects, has led me to the idea of using them in my own artwork.
It’s a creative visually impactful way to introduce them into a space, for everyone to enjoy!
My unique style incorporates types I & II vinyl, along with naturally renewable fibers including; cork, mica, linen, paper weave, silk, textile, leather, and wool. To add more detail, I embellish with items such as metal, acrylic, glass and crystal accents.
Though I can reproduce the images on many substrates, no two mixed media pieces are alike.
Creating unique and truly one-of-a kind art.
Seeing the tremendous amount of local beach erosion firsthand over my lifetime, has given me a greater perspective for climate change and sustainability.
For my art, whether it's purchased products such as cradled artboards or locally sourced materials, the majority of products are selected with environmental sustainability in mind.
Premium hardboard surfaces are harvested in forests that are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. Paints, primers, compounds, adhesives and sealants used are water-based, with low (VOCs).
In addition, many of the wallcovering products used meet green building standards, per the (WA) Wallcovering Association and NSF/ANSI 342.
With sustainability in mind, I upcycle and incorporate material cuttings and discontinued items in my artwork.
Larger pieces make for areas of interest within a piece, while smaller pieces are cut with a hand press and metal shaped dies for mosaic collages.
Art and Sustainability
My Inspiration
Common threads
throughout my life, and great sources of inspiration for me have been spending summers in Matunuck, RI and time in the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire.
I crave nature and being outdoors.
I love the sea breeze our coastline offers and the clean air from the mountains and woods of our neighboring states in New England.
Fun Fact
I love Rhode Island
so much that in 2004 I created, manufactured, and sold 5000 trivia boardgames called Day Trip RI!
One of the proudest days of my career was seeing the 18-wheeler truck driving up and unloading the games to the warehouse. For me, there is nothing more rewarding than creating something and bringing it to fruition.
The games were shipped as far as Ireland, and Iraq to National Guard members from RI. I had 22 local accounts with toy and game stores as well as Borders and other bookstores. I showed at local fairs and art festivals, was written up in the Providence Journal, and made guest appearances on local radio shows.