Kelly Beeman Makes Art Out of Fashion
Inside the studio of the artist who works with everyone from J.W. Anderson to Tory Burch and Elie Saab.
It would be fair to say that after seeing the shows every season—the runways and presentations, whether live or online—we’re inspired. Inspired to try some new variation of classic shirting, inspired to wear ruffles and sequins, inspired, in general, to spend money and pad our already bursting closets. Kelly Beeman is inspired, too. But rather than overdrafting her checking account, she’s making art and putting favorite looks into her painting.
Like the rest of the industry, we discovered Beeman after Jonathan Anderson did, and subsequently had her create work around both his namesake line and Loewe—art that, frankly, is as beautiful, desirable and downright cool as the clothes she’s painting. When we visited the self-taught artist at her live-work space in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, she drew us one of her serene, inimitable faces, she told about how she overcame her shyness and finally starting showing her work (on Instagram), why inspiration is overrated, and why clothes mean so much to a person (and her paintings).
Click through the gallery to read more about Beeman’s work with Marie Claire Italia, how supportive Jonathan Anderson has been, and “working through the garbage.”