An Inspired Chat with Kelly Boehmer

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kelly Boehmer. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Kelly, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I recently went on a trip for a conference with some colleagues, and we visited a natural history museum and art museum. I felt like a kid again going through the museum – especially the interactive exhibits. The taxidermy, dinosaur bones, dioramas and other displays were fun and inspiring!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an artist and professor in Savannah, GA. I make soft sculptures and performance artworks. Everything that I make is sewn by hand. The soft sculpture creatures represent my anxiety, growth, and transformation.
I have exhibited and performed my work nationally and internationally in over 175 exhibitions, including shows in Baltimore, Dallas, Miami, New York City, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, San Juan, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea, Ivano-Frankivs’k, Ukraine, and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
I think that it is a tie between my husband and parents.

My parents both have a strong work ethic. I think that it is something that not only shaped how I approach my career in teaching, but also had a big impact on my studio art practice. My art is labor-intensive, because everything is sewn by hand. At some point, I discovered that the work became more and more interesting (for me and the viewer) when I would invest extra time and love into layering small details.

I met my husband in grad school and I watched his studio practice and habits and learned from that. In grad school, I had to learn how to fall in love with my own studio practice and gain a new type of self-discipline.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
In grad school I started making art that had a personal narrative. Confronting fears of death through the use of taxidermy, and creatures made with soft textures, makes the fears more approachable. I often face my fears and anxieties through symbols like molting or flayed creatures. Even though fears of death can feel deeply personal, it is also fairly universal. I love how complete strangers will approach me at an exhibition of my work and tell me vulnerable, personal stories.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
There is no way to prove this, but I believe a viewer can guess how an artist was feeling, the artist’s level of focus, what they were thinking, and/or their general headspace when they were creating the work.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing? 
I will probably regret not traveling more. I typically feel a responsibility to be in the studio, but gathering inspiration is important too!

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
Life, Lessons, & Legacies

Shari Mocheit Put God first and trust the process. See God in everyone and everything.

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Del Kary Definitely what I was born to do. Since I can remember, movies have

Highlighter Series
Local Highlighter Series

Sean Glatch Anyone can write poetry! To prove this, well, everyone would have to write