Kelly McCallum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kelly McCallum
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| Born | 1979 Toronto, Ontario
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| Education | Rhode Island School of Design, Royal College of Art |
| Known for | Contemporary artist, taxidermist, sculptor, jewelry maker |
Kelly McCallum, born in 1979, is a Canadian artist who lives in London. She is known for her unique art that combines taxidermy, metalwork, and jewelry making. Her work often explores ideas about life, death, and how things change over time.
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Kelly McCallum's Early Life and Learning
When Kelly was young, she visited Norman Elder's house on school trips. She saw his amazing collection there. This is where she first became interested in taxidermy art.
Studying Art and Science
Kelly started her art studies at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2001. After that, she spent a year studying Animal Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This helped her learn more about animals.
Advanced Art Training
Kelly then returned to RISD to focus on metalwork. From 2004 to 2006, she studied at the Royal College of Art in London, England. There, she earned her Master of Arts degree.
What Inspires Kelly McCallum's Art
From a young age, Kelly found beauty in many things. She loves natural history, which led her to study science. She also started her art journey with photography, a subject she still admires.
Artists Who Inspire Her
Kelly is inspired by many famous artists. These include Eva Hesse, Louise Bourgeois, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Mark Ryden, and Frida Kahlo. She also admires the works of David Wojnarowicz, Annette Messager, Joel-Peter Witkin, and Simon Ward. Her creative taxidermy pieces are sometimes compared to the whimsical works of Victorian artist Walter Potter.
Kelly McCallum's Artistic Career
Kelly McCallum uses Victorian taxidermy in her large artworks. She also creates many wearable art pieces, like jewelry. She pays great attention to small details. This hands-on approach to creating art led her to study metalworking.
Unique Artistic Style
Kelly's use of taxidermy places her among well-known contemporary artists. These include Polly Morgan, Damien Hirst, and Kate McGwire. She gets ideas from stories about how things decay or are preserved. This interest in the line between life and death connects her to artists like Tim Noble and Sue Webster and the brothers Jake and Dinos Chapman. Her work is special because it mixes old taxidermy and gold work. It also shows the interesting balance between keeping things safe and letting them fall apart.
Exhibitions and Collections
Kelly's art has been shown in many group and solo exhibitions around the world. Her work has been displayed in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Germany, France, Korea, the United Kingdom, and Poland. Famous places like the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Goldsmiths Hall, Sotheby's, Selfridges, and Liberty's have featured her art. Many private collectors worldwide also own her pieces. In 2009, Kelly McCallum was a main artist in the "Telling Tales" exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
See also
