Kelsey Nagy

Bio

Kelsey Nagy is originally from Memphis, TN. In 2011, she graduated from Union University with a BA in Studio Art. After graduation, she pursued her interests by interning at Companion Gallery from 2011-2015. In 2015, Kelsey moved to St. Petersburg, FL where she completed a two year residency at the Morean Center for Clay. Kelsey and her husband moved to the Twin Cities metro in 2019. Kelsey currently maintains an active studio practice.

Artist Statement

I never intended to be a potter. Pottery is a means to an end, a practical crossroads of my need to create with my hands, functionality, and surface decoration. As a maker of objects and despiser of knick knacks, object functionality is imperative. Each piece serves as a functional canvas; a simply made blank vessel upon which I can carve or paint. My designs, whether carved or painted, reflect my interests in repeating patterns such as fabrics and wallpapers. My choice of bold, bright colors is based on my lifelong love for colors. Visual and physical textures are created by a combination of raised and recessed areas, satin, and gloss glazes. The bold color schemes are selected directly from the color wheel in analogous, tetradic, and triadic combinations. Through my use of colors and surfaces, I hope to infuse each piece with a sense of whimsical festivity.