We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelly Taylor Mitchell and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kelly Taylor, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from the Greater Philadelphia area. My family put down roots in along the Delaware River after my paternal grandparents met while attending North Carolina HBCUs, North Carolina A&T and Bennett College. Home, family, and collective memory are central to my story and my artist practice. My grandparents come from storied sites; Harlem, NY, Lynchburg, VA, Boykin, Al and Garysburg, NC saturate my studio and spirit. So much of what I carry with me from my childhood is a distinctive reverance for place, for self, and for the relationships forged and fostered in community. My work now is very much a type of ancestor worship and an act of “rememory”, as it relates to family narratives, a concept penned by Toni Morrison.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an interdisciplinary artist working in primarily in papermaking, book arts, and textiles. My practice centers oral history and ancestral memory woven into the fabric of the Africana Diaspora, in order to present speculative histories, specifically related to concepts of community autonomy, swamp marronage, and inherited identity. Teaching, sharing and learning are very much apart of my practice. So, it is an absolute honor to be the Art Program Director and an Assistant Professor of Art and Visual Culture at Spelman College. My journey, although having various hurdles, has always pointed confidently in one direction — art. I learn new lessons everyday but one of my favorites is that there is enough sunshine for everyone. I would much rather bask in the warmth with friends and peers than be standing alone.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a fun question! As someone who is relatively new to Atlanta this is a type of visit I have navigated before. I would absolutely share Spelman with my friend, its is an incredibly special place that benefits from having its magic experienced in person. The tour would continue on the the Atlanta Contemporary where I have my studio and is also home to incredible exhibitions by various guest curators. Some time in nature would be a must, maybe a trip to the Chattahoochee or a quicker visit to Cascade Springs. For me, hosting a friend requires some dedicated time at home catching up and cooking a favorite meal to share… this calls for a trip to one my favorite Atlanta spots, Dekalb Market. Its reasonable to argue that a trip to Atlanta isn’t complete without some wining and dinning, maybe a cocktail at Parlor and a late dinner and dancing at Rock Steady?
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I know without question that my successes, lessons, and recoveries are possible through my extensive and generous support system. I have truly exceptional family and friends. My gratitude is endless for their reciprocity, care, love, and guidance. This support system not only lifts me up but inspires me. My work is very much about ancestor worship, it is not lost on me that the people who so colorfully fill my life are future ancestors. It is a gift and an absolute joy to author our past, present, and future together. My story is also made possible due to educators who truly saw me, from Makefield Elementary to The Rhode Island School of Design, I was blessed to find cheerleaders and mentors to stand in my corner. My access, education, curiosity and encouraging support system helped me build relationships early on with artists that continue to influence my practice; the work of Howardina Pindell, the various galleries and period rooms at The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the countless encounters with local artists are comfortably seared in my mind.
Website: https://www.kellytaylormitchellstudio.com/
Instagram: @kellytaylormitchell
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-taylor-mitchell-07588391
Image Credits
Nydia Blas Alvaro Santistevan Kelly Taylor Mitchell