Artist Chat with TRU alum Kelly Perry

The reasons that artists make art differ for each individual, and through this ongoing series, we want to explore them all. The Omega is interested in talking to diverse local artists at TRU and across Kamloops to discuss the complexities of art, why people make art and how it affects the artist and the viewer.

Gallery 635, a private gallery in downtown Kamloops, is located in the lobby of an office building on Victoria Street. Its interior features white tiled walls, beautiful modern décor, and a line of vibrant acrylic paintings that bring the space to life. Several of these paintings are displayed along the walls, with each canvas covered in a cluster of brightly coloured petals. 

The flowery art pieces belong to Kamloops native and visual artist Kelly Perry. Perry has been painting for over two decades and is now presenting her newest exhibit, “If Plants Were Like People,” at Gallery 635.

Speaking with the Omega, Perry described what brought this collection to life. 

“The inspiration was what’s going on in the world today in so many countries,” Perry said. “Like with Ukraine and Russia, and all the innocent people dying on both sides. I studied all these countries intensely, and it made me realize that a lot of these conflicts have been going on for so long. In many places, it’s been going on for centuries. And that was hard to learn because I realized there was [little] I could do. So, I thought the only thing to do was try to bring a little bit of joy to people.”

Each painting in her collection is based on a nation she explored during her research, many of which are embroiled in turmoil. From Saudi Arabia to Ukraine to Somalia, Perry’s pieces tell a familiar story of human struggle and anxiety. 

“The hardest part for me, in all this, was seeing the suffering of people in all the different countries,” Perry said. “It brought me down a little bit. Not to mention, I did all of this in eight months, which is a lot of work. But I did it.”

A TRU alum, Perry credits her tenacity to her past struggles and unconventional path. “I went back [to school] after a 30-year relationship failed,” she recalled. “I found myself lying on the ground outside, crying for my mother and my daughter. Then I thought, ‘Kelly, get off the ground, or you’re gonna die.’ So, I applied to TRU, and they accepted me as an adult student. Four years later, I got my Bachelor of Fine Arts.”

Perry was not always aware of her proclivity for art. “I never drew,” she said. “I never did any of that. I think that just by experiencing loss, art became what I had to do to stay alive. I always say that art is my voice. If I sense things I cannot say, my art says it for me.” 

She spoke about TRU’s recent decision to discontinue the Bachelor of Fine Arts Program.

“I know what [the Fine Arts program] does for people,” she said. “Sometimes, you just don’t have a voice, right? It doesn’t matter how many people spoke up; it’s gone. And sometimes, I think it’s all about the money, but money doesn’t make a better world.”

Despite this setback, Perry’s message to the young artists of Kamloops is clear: “I want them to know that there are no mistakes in art. Even at school, they try to tell you what to do, but art doesn’t come from your head,” she said, gesturing to her heart, “It comes from here. It comes from the soul.”

Perry’s collection, “If Plants Were Like People,” will remain on display at Gallery 635 until December.