Interview

Mar 6

Kristin Dorsey

kAEDY (Kristin Dorsey) is a self-taught artist whose work explores themes of home, belonging, and identity. Born in California and based in Canada for over two decades, her art reflects the complex emotions of displacement and the search for roots. kAEDY's diverse background as a single mother, entrepreneur, and marketing executive infuses her work with authenticity and depth. Her artistic practice is characterized by its versatility, spanning from ethereal abstracts to bold figuratives. kAEDY skillfully employs acrylic, plaster, ceramic, and mixed media to create powerful visual narratives that challenge conventional boundaries. Each piece serves as a unique lens into specific moments of vulnerability, strength, and transformation. Drawing profound inspiration from music and poetry, kAEDY translates intangible rhythms and emotions into tangible forms. Her lifelong passion for singing intertwines with her visual art, resulting in pieces that resonate on a visceral level. This synesthetic approach yields art that speaks its own language, provoking thought and emotion without need for explanation. kAEDY's work stands as a testament to the power of creativity in expressing the complexities of the human experience, particularly the universal longing for a sense of place and belonging. Through her art, she continually pushes boundaries, contributing a fresh, uncompromising voice to the contemporary art dialogue.

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What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

I am a self-taught artist who was born in California and have now lived in Canada for over two decades. My experiences as a single mother and expat have really shaped my art and creativity. I began my journey in art through cake. I began a cake business almost 20 years ago, making custom sculpted cakes, and really fell in love with sculpting, painting and the power of creativity. Several years ago, I began painting with acrylics and fell in love again with this new way of expressing myself. I still work with both painting and sculpture as I love the freedom to use any medium to bring ideas to life.”

What inspires you?

“Music, moments of synesthesia, my children, thoughts of my home in California, a longing for home and my experiences as a woman.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“Each piece captures moments of vulnerability, strength, and the perpetual quest for a place to truly belong. I create art that speaks its own language, provoking thought and emotion without explanation. My goal is to push boundaries and contribute a fresh, uncompromising voice to contemporary art, while exploring the universal human desire to find and create 'home.’”

How would you describe your work?

“I transform canvas into a realm of exploration and raw emotion, each piece a journey into the human psyche and our universal longing for belonging. My work defies categorization, spanning ethereal abstracts to bold figurative, united by a recurring theme of 'home' – both physical and metaphorical.”

Which artists influence you most?

“Rodin, Rothko, Mary Cassatt and David Bowie.”

“My work defies categorization, spanning ethereal abstracts to bold figurative, united by a recurring theme of 'home' – both physical and metaphorical.”

What is your creative process like?

“I generally envision a piece in it's entirety - from the canvas or medium, the size, the texture, to the colours and impact. Then sometimes, it feels like a mad dash to bring the piece to life before it's left me. I often become transfixed, completely obsessed with the piece I'm working on, driven to complete it because sometimes, if I take too long, another strong idea comes to knock it off the easel.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“I think the role of art and the artist in society is universal and timeless. From the beginning of recorded humanity, art has existed. I think it is a vital part of being alive, being human. So, to be one of the standard bearers of this human necessity is both an honour and a deep responsibility. To be given the gift of creating art and not create would be to rob the world and it's people of something the need.”