Meet Kelsey Wittman | Art Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsey Wittman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsey, what do you attribute your success to?
With consistency comes success, so I like to focus on the consistency aspect. If you hold yourself to a certain standard, the caliber of work is known and expected. And people remember that, and in turn remember you for upcoming projects. It’s a special blend of networking and consistent execution.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career in film was a happy accident.

After graduating from SCAD, I was a freelancer for years, working in various industries from fashion to technology to logistics. While working full-time at a logistics company, I began jumping on film projects on my PTO, and realized I had finally found the piece of myself that was missing. For months I tried to do both jobs, because I was really good at both, but I was exhausted and not able to give 100% to either one. In early Spring 2021, after months of juggling the two, I made both the easiest and hardest decision of my life and quit my 9-5 to pursue art department full-time. Taking that leap was terrifying, but there was no other option for me. I’ve been able to work with people I never dreamed I could be in the same room with. Meeting artists creatives from all walks of life and all branches of the industry that are just as excited to be here as I am. I’ve seen myself grow and learned a lot about myself in the last year of working in film: time is definitely money, your work is the most important resource you have, and when you stop caring what people think about you, it gives you the space to flourish creatively. This industry is not for the faint-hearted, and you have to fight to keep your spot in the circle. But the people that are here, want to be here, and we are all here for the same reason: to make something beautiful together. That’s why I’m here. That’s why we do what we do.

Nothing in this life that is worthwhile will be handed to you. You have to be the one to pull up your own chair to the table.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love the eateries and food halls that we have in Atlanta. The newest, The Southern Feed Store, is in my neighborhood and has great local favorites so I’d be sure to stop by there. You have to have a Woody’s cheesesteak! In the food realm, I’d also demand we get Zunzi’s, a Savannah-based South African restaurant that opened a location here in town. I’ve been addicted to the ‘Shit Yeah’ sauce since 2010.

Since I spend so much time sourcing props, I would definitely bring my friend to CAPS, my favorite prop house, just to give them a glimpse of what I do on a daily basis. It’s always fun to walk the aisles and find weird furniture and tchotchkes that have accumulated in this mammoth prop warehouse. Plus everyone that works there is the BEST!

You can’t forget to show off the small, local galleries around town: Cateye Creative, ABV gallery, Mutiny Artwrx, most of which have a weekly event to socialize at! I have some friends with studios at Mutiny, so it’d be fun to go tour their studios and see what they’re working on. I also am a member of the High museum, which has a fabulous standing exhibit and exclusive events on nights and weekends.

Lastly I’d find a good show playing at Aisle 5/Variety Playhouse/The Eastern to boogie at sometime during the week. There is always great music coming through Atlanta, so it’d be a shame to not experience that.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Dedicated to my badass, strong women of Major Art Department. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you.

Website: MajorArtDepartment.com

Instagram: @bigmamakels @majorartdepartment

Linkedin: Kelsey Wittman