We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chellis Baird. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chellis below.

Alright, Chellis thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

In my work I set out to convey a feeling, gesture, or mood and experiment with materials and color throughout the process. One of my most meaningful projects was a series I created for the Louise Nevelson Chapel at Saint Peter’s Church in 2019. The eight large works were inspired by the white Nevelson Chapel as well as our shared love of dance. Nevelson made at times very angular works, and was an active modern dancer. I employ my ballet practice as a way to inform movement in my compositions, and think of ballet as being circular, with modern dance conjuring a sharper image.

The tribute I made to Nevelson inspired a choreographer to create a dance performance within the galleries at Saint Peter’s Church, in front of my work, unifying the exhibition. It was moving to watch the audience as their eyes traveled throughout the space.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was raised in Spartanburg, SC by a large family who appreciated the arts in all its forms. At a young age I was immersed in the art of craft and making. Spartanburg is historically known as a textile town and was part of America’s 19th-century textile industry boom. There are still active mills in the town today and it is now considered one of the fastest growing cities in the country. When I was growing up, I played on the grounds of the textile mills, studied indigo dyeing, and later interned for the mills. My family has many heirloom quilts that I studied like paintings to mimic the stitches and create collages and embroideries. I also was an active ballet dancer and helped make costumes for the local ballet company. My passion for fabric continued to grow as I studied textiles at Rhode Island School of Design and took up modern dance. After RISD I moved to NY and worked as a fashion designer for Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, and Tuleh, which enhanced my love of fabric. I traveled to Paris and Italy and was inspired by the range of possibilities. I continued to study ballet in NY and still actively take dance class a couple times a week.

The combination of fashion, art, and dance came together for me later in my practice as an artist. I previously painted on a traditional canvas but was comparing the layers of paint to weaving. While studying at the Art Students League in NY I remember asking myself “How could I better magnify the weaving element to the viewer?” Why am I painting on a canvas when I have such a passion for fabric? This is what led me to develop my own textural language through fabric, paint, and wood. My art re-examines what makes up a painting and de-constructs and re-constructs these materials into one. I currently have a studio in NY and am represented by Slag & RX gallery in NY and Paris.

I have held one solo museum exhibition and one group museum exhibition in South Carolina. Most recently I was featured in a group show at the Spartanburg Art Museum called Beyond Painting. In 2021 I had a large solo exhibition at the Myrtle Beach Art Museum titled Tethered. The premise of the show was no matter where we are in life we will always be tethered to home in some form. The Myrtle Beach Art Museum building was also very exciting for me because it was previously the home of a textile mill owner. The history of the building celebrated the history of my work and textiles. Vanna White is also from Myrtle Beach and I made a work titled Spin from yarn that White donated to me by Lion Yarns. White is an active knitter and has her own collection of yarn. It was important to me to incorporate a layer of their community into the exhibition.

More recently I was awarded a fellowship at The National Arts Club in NY and held a solo exhibition there called The Touch of Red. It was Inspired by my favorite color and the incredible range of meanings and symbols associated with the color. After having a child in 2020 I also used the color as a way to reclaim myself as a woman through my work. The exhibit included works titled Lady Danger after my favorite shade of red lipstick by MAC cosmetics. The daily ritual of applying lipstick and the gestures the mouth makes during that process unlocked a new series.

My work is rooted in the making and process of creation. It is the tactile evidence of the human hand and touch that is most important to me for the viewer to experience. We live in an age of slick screens that has at times shielded us from true human connection. I invite the viewer to immerse yourself in the tactile through my abstract compositions.

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

The process of discovery and making art with my hands. I am so grateful to have a practice where I am immersed in materials and creation. It is a constant puzzle and so rewarding to see how everything fits together through time. There are endless possibilities that I find very fulfilling.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

As a former fashion designer I have found many people to be surprised by my transition into fine art. While I have always identified as an artist, my creative endeavors were largely kept private. The decision to share my work with the public caught some off guard. For me, it’s a seamless connection and a natural evolution of my relationship with fabric that has shaped my artistic journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.chellisbaird.com
• Instagram: @chellisbaird
• Facebook: Chellis Stoddard Baird
• Linkedin: Chellis (Stoddard) Baird
• Youtube: @chellisbaird7843

Image Credits
Images provided by artist