Kelly Kozma
Security Blanket
2017

Name: Security Blanket
Brand: Kelly Kozma
Price: 10000 USD
Availability: InStock

About the Item

"Security Blanket" is an original work by American artist Kelly Kozma made from hand-cut security envelopes, hand-stitched together with embroidery thread, marine vinyl & grommets. The full piece measures 65”h x 64”w x 13”d and ships with the pictured hanging display. The stitched blanket size is 60”h x 50”w. Please send us a direct message if you would like to see images of the piece in situ. KELLY KOZMA Mixed media & fiber artist Kelly Kozma, grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and received her BFA from Moore College of Art & Design. She is represented by Paradigm Gallery + Studio in Philadelphia. Kozma has participated in several solo and group shows in Philadelphia as well as New York, Delaware, and Miami, Florida for Art Basel. Her current work combines drawing, painting and hand embroidery with elements of chance and probability to create vivid, pattern driven pieces. ARTIST STATEMENT "Consider each piece as a cross section from life. Like a droplet of blood, these works are sandwiched between two slides, preserving memories, experiences and ephemera, which may otherwise be forgotten. Similarly to one’s memories, these works begin with a collection of information. In a few cases, the materials utilized were brand new to this world. Their first and last purpose was to be a part of this piece. In other cases, they were gathered over time. “CMYK” for example, took months of cutting up boxes to amass enough color test-strips, to create the work. “Confetti 2.0” is made up of leftover (you guessed it) confetti, from an installation of a previous exhibition. And then there’s “Philly, Then” which is compiled of photographs taken almost 15 years ago. Regardless of how long the materials took to collect or put to use, the outcome is a frozen period of time on which one can reflect. The collection process is followed by deconstruction. Over time, the memories one accumulates break down in the mind. What was once clear as day becomes fuzzy and pieces go missing. “What year was that? Who was there? Was that before or after we met?” One may cling to the bigger more important chunks, or remember the slightest detail of an event. Either way, information fades and the experience changes more and more with the passing of time. I mimic this process by punching my materials into half-inch circles, which get mixed up randomly, like memories swimming in a sea of thoughts. Lastly, these materials are sewn together, hence preserving them before being able to breakdown to an undecipherable state. I use the technique of hand stitching to physically mark the passing of time. The needle goes through the next hole and the clock ticks one more notch. The thread gets pulled tight and that second has secured itself in history. It cannot be erased or forgotten. Aside from the conceptuality of memories, I was also driven by the aesthetics achieved through the reorganization of information. A beer box becomes a menagerie of bold, shimmering sequins in “California Style” and a coloring book transforms into a sophisticated abstract design in “F**cked”. I also considered how the piece changes, as it is viewed from different distances. From far away, colors group together and create a pixelated, Tetris-like effect. As one approaches the piece however, it breaks down into individual images . . . a barcode, the word pizza, a smiley face, etc. Again this relates to the human experience and how we group similar time periods and events together, but upon closer examination we are able to remember the most specific and intricate of details. Although this collection of memories began as my own, they will be transferred onto each individual viewer, who, in turn, will create their own associations, all to be preserved in time."

Creator:

Kelly Kozma (American)

Creation Year:

2017

Dimensions:

Height: 65 in (165.1 cm)Width: 64 in (162.56 cm)Depth: 13 in (33.02 cm)

Medium:

Thread,Paper

Movement & Style:

Abstract

Period:

21st Century