We caught up with the brilliant and insightful K. Fry a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Fry 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?

Two important aspects of my work are joy and play. I believe my initial experiences in the art world as an illustrator left me feeling like an outsider in relation to more exclusive fine art spaces. The approach of being silly and inviting others in was vital to making me feel like I had an audience, while also pushing back against the inaccessibility I feel the art world can perpetuate.

My project Selfie Bot is one of the creations born from this mentality of bringing joy and sharing art. The original iteration of Selfie Bot was born in 2020 during a period of great uncertainty. It was a large paper maché robot I built during quarantine with the goal of finding a way to connect and make people smile, while also socially distancing. Designed to look like a robot, Selfie Bot invites visitors to sit and have their portraits drawn. I stay inside the bot and in character while drawing each portrait. Selfie is usually set out in a public park and offered as a free service to anyone who wanders across its path.

After a few years of transporting the cardboard version of Selfie Bot it began to deteriorate, sag, and crumple. In 2023, I received a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council to rebuild Selfie Bot in the same whimsical style but using materials that were more durable. The process of rebuilding this project with a bigger budget and the ability to hire a collaborator (Joe Krcma, a talented builder and maker) was an exciting challenge. I was able to work more freely without constraints on ideas that excited me.

The work I make is largely inspired by my connections with other people. The Selfie Bot 2.0 project has been a great opportunity for me to build relationships within my community. It has allowed me to interact with a diverse group of people, from other artists to visitors, and create a sense of community around my work. Visitors are encouraged to relax and enjoy the creative process, connecting with one another during the 5-8 minutes it takes to manifest the drawing. Often these moments of repose bring interesting conversations to those who are waiting in line or between my helper and the sitter. Selfie Bot is not only a visual spectacle, but also a space for people to come together and celebrate.

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?

My name is Kelly Fry, preferred name Fry (she/they). I am a multidisciplinary graphic recorder, illustrator, and educator who believes images are a powerful tool for creating positive change. With a strong foundational knowledge of design and teaching I have held leadership roles in the education sector for the past 5 years. My interest in visual work is founded in an appreciation for deeper levels of listening, cultivating new mindsets, and allowing space for people to be creative.

My career path has been marked by my passion for fostering creative learning. After completing a Bachelors of Fine Art in animation and illustration at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, I worked as a freelance Illustrator generating work for clients like Tin House, POW! Kids Publishing, and Cartoon Network. In the last five years I switched courses and have been working as an art teacher helping students of all ages to develop their visual strategy, branding, and personal goals. My work as an educator has allowed me to partner with a diverse population in the Portland area, including institutions like Portland Community College, Willamette University, Portland Art Museum, and Arts for Learning NW.

My current passion project is working on a tufted fiber arts series that explores womanhood though the lens of fairytale themes. I’m also collecting submissions for a collaborative zine with the theme of quitting with joy! We are accepting submissions and you can find more by going to the link in my instagram bio.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I had known that saying yes to every opportunity is not working hard, it is a scarcity mindset. It is a fear of never being asked to do something again or being desperate for opportunity even if it’s not the right fit. I know now to only take on projects that are a emphatic yes.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I’d love to see more transparency around pricing across all types of freelance communities. As creatives it can be difficult to know your worth or understand the market you’re in, especially when starting out. If we disclose this information more publicly then it can strengthen our resolve to get paid what we deserve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kfrydraws.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kfrydraws/
• Other: https://www.inksight.org/