Issue link: http://www.wacmagazine.com/i/1504946
SUMMER / FALL 2023 13 Bold, brash, and bright New Grand Staircase artist brings vibrant colors and wild lines to the WAC's walls By Mae Jacobson Up-and-coming Seattle artist Xavier Kelley's work was recently installed on the walls of the Grand Staircase Gallery. His collage-like pieces feature bold lines, rich color palettes, and high-energy figures. Kelley first started sketching graffiti-inspired pieces on paper in elementary school. at practice has evolved to large-scale canvases alive with cultural references and ancient symbolism in the form of text and audacious interacting figures. e intentional chaos and almost riot-like nature of Kelley's work is reminiscent of art legend Jean-Michel Basquiat. And the messages contained within his pieces are just as powerful as they appear. Kelley strives for his work to address racism and how marginalized people navigate societal oppressions and obstacles. e larger-than-life sizes of his work combined with the inventive ways in which Kelley chooses to display them enhance the boldness of his statement and drive forward a force that is to be reckoned with. Kelley has shown his pieces in galleries around Seattle and hopes to expand to the global art market. e Grand Staircase Gallery will be his fourth solo show. At just 22 years old, that's a remarkable achievement. Support this young artist's dreams and see beyond the abstract nature of his work to discover his ideas on athleticism, human interaction, and marginalized bodies. Kelley's paintings are hard to miss and will be on display through October. u Xavier Kelley's "Seminole (World Records)" (top) and "Blackberry Lemonade (Scarface)" (bottom left) are two of the artist's works on display in the Grand Staircase Gallery through October. At right, Kelley poses next to one of his paintings. first take grand staircase artist C O U R T E S Y P H O T O S