We recently connected with Kailey Atkinson and have shared our conversation below.

Kailey, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

Since I was in elementary school, art has always been my passion. I went to a charter arts high school, then later to college for art, and knew that I wanted to pursue art as a career. I had a professor who encouraged me to build a career in the arts in addition to maintaining my studio practice, so I said “yes” to many opportunities within the field. Making art has always been central to who I am as a person, but I also started working in art education when I was in college while working at an art summer camp.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an artist and educator from Easton, PA. My primary mediums are mixed media collage and illustration. I collect imagery from sources dating back to the late 1800’s, but most often from the early to mid 1900’s. Through found imagery and experimentation with a range of materials, I create narratives that explore topics like body image, memory, mental illness, identity, feminism, gender roles, politics, and personality, aiming to expose what is below the surface in my art.

My work may seem simply playful at first, drawing viewers in with glitter, vibrant colors, mysterious textures, sassy sayings, and unexpected juxtapositions of imagery. Upon closer looking, I hope viewers find connections to their own experiences and recognize the deeper meaning within my
work.

In addition to selling original collages, I also have made digital prints, greeting cards, ornaments, pins, and other curiosities with my artwork to make it more accessible by offering a range of price points.

I am currently a high school art teacher at a cyber school, and have taught art and installed exhibitions in a range of settings. I find being an artist and having a career in the arts go hand in hand, and I embrace how these separate worlds inspire each other. I received an Art Teacher Certification at Moravian University, a BA in Studio Art with a Minor in Art History at Cedar Crest
College, and an AA in Fine Art at Northampton Community College.

I think what I’m most proud of is how I’ve overcome significant struggles with my mental and physical health. Despite the challenges I was facing, I maintained a focus on my studio practice and my career. When times got hard, I used my art as a form of therapy, and it helped me process what I was going through.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My struggle with my health has been one of my most significant challenges, but has made me stronger and shaped who I am. At 15, I was diagnosed with a mental illness. Since then, I have been hospitalized several times and undergone intensive treatment, but am happy to report I have been stable for the majority of the last several years. I have experienced severe highs and lows, but I have learned how to recognize when I need help and am able to access it. There is so much stigma around mental illness that I often fear opening up about it, but I hope to share that you can not only learn to deal with it, but thrive and live a full life.

In 2020, amidst the pandemic, I was also diagnosed with a rare disease called Cushing’s. I had been having a myriad of symptoms and had been pushed from one doctor to the next trying to find answers. Finally, an endocrinologist diagnosed me and I began a long road of tests and eventually underwent neurosurgery to remove a tumor that had been wreaking havoc on my body for years.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned through fighting for my health is that you have to advocate for yourself. Though it was exhausting, I am so grateful that I found out what was wrong, because I feel better both mentally and physically than I have since I was a child.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding thing about being an artist is being able to share my lived experience and creativity with others. Nothing is better than when someone really gets my art. Sometimes I will get a message or have someone talk to me at an opening that really connected with my work. Though I also am thrilled when someone purchases my work and gives it a forever home, when someone really connects with something I’ve poured my soul into, it’s the best feeling in the world.

As an art teacher, seeing my students grow as artists and find a love for art is also so fulfilling.

Contact Info:

• Website: Kaileyatkinson.com
• Instagram: @kaileycatkinson
• Facebook: Kailey Atkinson Art
• Linkedin: Kailey Atkinson

Image Credits
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