Kelly Kozma

Bold Heart

2021

"Security Blanket" is an original work by American artist Kelly Kozma made from hand-cut security envelopes, hand-stitched together with embroidery th...

This piece titled "Emblem" is an original artwork made from collage, hand embroidery, and latex paint on canvas by Kelly Kozma. This piece is shipped in the pictured white frame and measures 6"h x 6"w framed. The catalyst for this new body of work was a jar of leftover magazine cutouts from a collage I made in 2010. Reusing leftover materials as well repurposing items that might end up thrown away, has become a very important part of my process the past decade. Stumbling across this jar of coin sized images that had waited patiently on a shelf for 12 years, ignited my creative process and drove me to explore collage in a new way. Unlike the piece from 2010 in which I assembled the images by piecing them together, I decided to examine each individual cut out on its on. By removing the image from any other context it allows you to focus solely on its meaning, purpose or feelings that it may evoke. Each image is embedded in a field of French knots which felt like a way of creating a time capsule of sorts for the object. Another inspiration behind this collection is my six year old son and his endless piles of sticks, stones, leaves, etc in our home. Only to him they aren’t sticks and stones, they are treasures. His ability to find a tiny twig or scrap of paper and not only cherish it but give it a backstory of why it is so special, is a beautiful thing and one I have tried to tap into with my new work. By placing a picture of a rubberband ball or a set of Dracula teeth or a banana in this embroidered box...