About the Artist:

Charlie Kelly (she/they) is a visual artist based in North-East England who primarily works in oil paint on canvas. Her collective body of work explores themes of femininity, resilience and introspection to visually explore the lasting effects of trauma.

Her most prominent works often feature symbolic depictions of blood and gore, which serve as visceral metaphors for Kelly’s take on the female experience. Challenging conventional notions of femininity, Charlie invites her viewers to engage with the intimate and unfiltered realities of womanhood.

Kelly received her Masters in Design from Northumbria University in 2021, where she specialised in fashion and sustainable knitted textiles.

charliee.paints@outlook.com

Education & Experience

EDUCATION

Northumbria University (PG) | 2019 – 2021

2019 – 2021 | Masters of Research in Design

Specialised in knitted textiles and sustainability practices.

Northumbria University (UG) | 2015 – 2019

2015 – 2019 | BA(hons) Fashion

Specialised in knitwear and illustration.

Bishop Auckland College | 2014 – 2015

2013 – 2014 | BTEC Diploma In Art & Design

2014 – 2015 | Extended Diploma in Fine Art

Specialised in portraiture.

EXHIBITIONS

Phantasmal Gallery’s ‘Uncanny’ Exhibition | 2024

Paintings featured in online exhibition in aid of Gaza relief charity efforts with supporting interview.

BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art | 2019

Graduate work exhibited and presented on the runway during the annual Northumbria University Graduate Fashion Showcase. [HERE]

London’s Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) | 2019

Graduate work presented and displayed for the duration of Graduate Fashion week.


PUBLICATIONS

NU Fashion Society, Printed Publication | 2019

Double spread interview about Graduate fashion collection.

OTHER

‘RE-PURPOSED’
MRes Interdisciplinary Conference | 2020

Featured speaker at Northumbria University’s annual MRes conference, presenting a research paper on sustainable knitwear manufacturing techniques.