Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kelly Reaves of East Garfield Park

We recently had the chance to connect with Kelly Reaves and have shared our conversation below.

Kelly, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
My favorite way to lose track of time is to go kayaking. If I stop paddling, I lose control of the kayak, so I can’t check my phone or even scratch my arm. Just paddle. There is only the river and the current and me (and my dog in my lap).

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an abstract painter. I’ve been painting for about 25 years – abstract for about 10. I make automatic paintings, meaning I don’t have any imagery in mind when I start a painting and the process is 100% lead by intuition. My 9-5 is working at an art handling company, like many other urban artists.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
At some point in adolescence I got it into my head that being “soft” was bad and I was “hard”. I don’t remember when or why — I suspect it came from some internalized misogyny. Soft = sensitive = weak. I prided myself on my ability to use logic to make decisions rather than emotions. I even considered myself a sociopath as a teenager. Over time, mistakes, trauma and grief have worn me into an exceptionally soft person. I’m still able to separate myself emotionally from a situation but my learned perspective, context and empathy has made me a better person and I embrace softness now!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I feel like giving up now! The more horrible things that happen in the world, the less I feel like sustaining an artistic practice is valid, especially an insular one like mine. Social media doesn’t help either — it’s discouraging to post a new painting that I’m proud of and not receive the “likes” I think it deserves. Or to see the profiles of artists whose work doesn’t fit my idea of “good art” and see that they are making a living at it. It’s hard to justify continuing to create things, especially now, I think.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I strongly believe that nothing is black and white, all people contain at least a little good and a little evil. All people are PEOPLE with unique experiences and deserve love and respect. Everyone is going through something. And people can change. It seems like this viewpoint is becoming rare.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will say I was kind and funny and my artwork was relevant and interesting!

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