Today we’d like to introduce you to Karly Jean Kainz
Hi Karly Jean, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been a creative person and someone who loves to make things with my hands. As a maker highly influenced by my everyday surroundings, my practice changes and grows just as I do. I’ve gone through many evolutions of my practice working through various mediums from drawing, painting, printmaking, installation, to now ceramics and sculpture. I still struggle to call myself one thing over another, because ultimately I simply see myself as an artist. It would be crazy to say that I got to where I am now without acknowledging the many amazing, talented, and supportive people that have continuously pushed me. From professors and mentors, to friends and family, to my partner—they’ve all helped shape me.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
With the chaos of life, of course there’s been struggle along the way. In the grand scheme of it all, some feel smaller than others, while some moments have truly reshaped my practice, mainly thinking of when my partner was diagnosed with stage four cancer my second semester of graduate school (he’s doing much better now and in full remission. Yay!). As something none of us could have ever been prepared for, I look back at that time to be very reflective. By slowing down, moving back home, and taking time to be with my partner during his treatments, so many things became clear for me. My practice became a way of moving through the everyday uncertainties, as a way to process and understand the deeper meanings that were embedded into my work.
Since that time in 2022, my practice has continued to serve as a form of processing. Now as we have moved to a new place and set roots in another state, I feel this to be more true than ever. Through the stress of setting new routines, starting new jobs, and more, my garage studio is a space of contemplation and I’m so incredibly grateful for that.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Informed by my everyday environments, my work explores the ways personal collections come and stay in our lives. Through out the duration of making my MFA thesis work, “Inevitable Shapes,” my research was focused on midwestern grottos, as spiritual, concrete environments encrusted in found, earthly objects. As a materialized form of devotion, my work created an experience for viewers that transforms the ordinary into something unexpected and extraordinary.
As of now my work continues to be primarily ceramic and tethers between functional purposes and sculptural forms. With a printmaking background rooted in craft concepts, I love to play in the in between. After finishing “Inevitable Shapes,” I’m now working on new pieces that continue a similar framework of research—on ideas of collection and the everyday. Interested in repetitive rituals, my current work heavily utilizes pattern and repeated form.
Reflecting back to my time in graduate school, it’s amazing to see where I first started versus where I ended. From learning new mediums and completely shifting my practice, to finding my real source of both motivation and inspiration, I’m proud of where I’m at now. I’m looking forward to the next several years of being informed by a new environment, working in a new space, and seeing the ways my practice continues to shift and grow.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
There’s many points of inspiration for me when it comes to content. I’m an avid podcast listener and find myself gravitating towards those in the studio, as they allow myself to sit and really focus. Here’s a few podcasts I love: “Sound Exploder,” “Time Sensitive, The Slowdown,” and “Call Her Daddy.” I love these all for various reasons, but enjoy the ways they all include deep conversation, humor, and curiosity.
When I’m in need of a pick me up while working, I lean towards music. Here’s a few albums I love front to back and find myself always returning to: “Bloom” by Beach House, “Actual Life (April 14 – December 17 2020)” by Fred again.., and “God Save the Animals” by Alex G. These albums are all reflective in their own ways, pondering on larger concepts of life. All of these albums are soft and sweet, balanced with moments that feel loud and wild.
As of late I’ve been hopping on the trend of Substack and reading insights from numerous amazing writers. I’ve been loving Haley Nahman’s (Maybe Baby) writing for her light hearted ways of approaching topics on modern life, womanhood, and relationships. When I’m craving some visual content, I go to Rachel Nguyen for her warm aura and generous insight into her life as a thirty-some year old woman. Her videos feel like movies with a raw undertone. I recommend starting with her video “a love letter” on Youtube.
All of these feel like points of research, as ways of collecting, feeling, and reflecting. The conversations, words, sounds, and visuals of these stick with me and influence me in subtle or sometimes big ways. Everything is research.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karlyjeankainz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlyjeank/
Image Credits
Yashoda Latkar and Ashley Diane Saldana.
