NADA Miami 2023

A self-taught artist, Kelly Beeman first took to drawing as a hobby at a young age. Having been influenced by her creative parents, she grew fascinated with the technique of applying watercolor, which propelled her to continue pursuing drawing as an interest after graduation. Her work caught the attention of the fashion house JW Anderson in 2015, and subsequently led her to a number of collaborations within the fashion industry, including a Travel Book with Louis Vuitton in 2020. Now known primarily for her watercolor and oil paintings, Beeman depicts nonchalant-looking subjects partaking in solitude or social leisure. Often characterized by clean fluid lines, fields of colors, and fashion ensembles, her works conjure childhood nostalgia and everyday experiences, while inviting viewers to contemplate deeper narrative layers.

Park Bench depicts a singular female character, seated within a lush landscape defined by a curved walkway that cuts through full, mature trees. Appearing in a one-shouldered dress that billows around her, the woman engages the viewer with a serene look, while clutching an orange flower against the light blue sash around her waist. The figure’s luminous hair drapes around her shoulder and neck, amplifying the youthful romanticism that was intended by the artist. Although Beeman’s colors are subdued in tone, they come together to convey a harmonious state of tranquility. For this edition, the artist will hand-embellish ten prints by using colored pencils to emphasize the delineations of the figure, and to rework the color and texture in the grass and trees. Additionally, she will add earrings with a gold pen.