Kelly Thiel

Kelly Thiel at MudFire

Gallery group show Fur and Feathers, April 2013
Gallery group show House and Home, March 2012

Kelly Thiel Artist Bio

Kelly Thiel found clay in 1999. Interested in all things creative, she grew up with an artistic mother on a small farm in rural Georgia, where she developed her love of playing in the mud. Those formative years influenced her greatly, and since then, she has always been involved in the arts.

A couple of years after graduating from Virginia Tech, Kelly moved to Charleston, SC and began working in clay. She traveled around the country to study with different artists, like Tom Coleman and Lisa Clague, to further her knowledge of the material. She has shown her award-winning work in regional and national exhibitions, and currently participates with the American Craft Council retail shows each year. Several of her sculptures were also included in the Art Buzz, Collection 2008 and 2011, which is an art book, deidcated to the visual arts. Kelly has also recently expanded to offer her pieces in bronze.

With a studio on John's Island, SC Kelly is able to stay connected with the natural environment and has a view of pastures and a pond, with many trees and birds.

Kelly is married with two young daughters, who have already attended many art shows and exhibits in their short lives.

Kelly Thiel Artist Statement

Following the most turbulent years of my life, my current body of work attempts to express the deep agony, delirious joy and tumult I've experienced. Flight, by all its definitions, connotations, and implications is a flying away from; a rising to; an escape and a release; an expression of desperation and joy. Emotions beat inside me on wings on rage, anguish, and fear, but also on wings of joy and love. I am hopefully able to release all that I carry inside me - bird by bird - one small release at a time.