In this episode, I have a profound conversation with visual artist Kelly Joy Ladd, diving deep into her transformative journey of healing and creativity. We explore her traumatic head injury and how it catalyzed a significant shift in her life and art practice, leading her to embrace her spirituality and authenticity fully.
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Ladd‘s work responds to themes of cosmic and creative mysteries, exploring inner and outer space, spiritually, the connection of all things and understanding the universe and our roles and purpose in it.
Ladd’s Liberal Studies degree from the University of Central Florida allowed her to opportunity to explore the subjects that peaked her curiosity like astronomy, physics and creative writing. During this time, she also discovered eastern philosophies and meditation, which has been a staple and major influence in her life and art practice.
Before becoming a full-time artist in 2019, she worked as a Disney World parade performer, music writer for HardRock.com, an editor and prop stylist for Parenting magazine and a freelance craft designer and blogger. All the while, she was developing her own style and unique techniques using paper as her main medium, due to her husband’s adverse health reactions to chemicals and paint.
In March 2020, Ladd experienced a significant head injury, which greatly affected her vision. Since then, she has been retraining her brain and eyes to refocus and track again. During her recovery when she wasn’t able to read, watch TV, or look at phones and computers, Ladd used this time, without outside distractions or influences, to devote her full attention to her art and meditation practices.
Her 3-D paper and mixed media work has been exhibited in the Mennello Museum of American Art and the Cummer Museum Art and Gardens.
Ladd’s intuitive artistic approach aligns her with her influences transcendental artists Hilma af Klint, Agnes Pelton and Emma Kunz.
Follow Kelly and her work:
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