Kellie Talbot

Talbot’s work revolves around the landscape of American artifacts, craftsmanship, and history. Signs, typography, architecture, industry, cemeteries and other emblems of society are the inspiration for her oil paintings. Facades, molding, wrenches, signposts become evidence of human perseverance and determination in Talbot’s work. Akin to portraits, the rust and peeling are like the wrinkles and blemishes found on a human subject. These are not negative markings showing neglect, but rather are signs of time, wisdom and experience. They are both an elegy and evidence of hope.

Talbot has long roots in Seattle. In 1906 her family left the Abruzzo mountains of Italy and settled in Rainier Valley. Though she was born in Hawaii and lived on both coasts growing up, Seattle has been home since 1990. Talbot and her husband divide their time between the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle and New Orleans. She shares her studio space with a cat and a duck.