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

Kimberlyn , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I’ve always been drawn to creating art, but went most of my life being too afraid to take the risk and commit to it as a full time career. I fed into the belief in my younger years that it was important to get a degree as the “safe” thing to do, to have “something to fall back on”. I got my business degree in marketing and management, but I remember sitting through lectures in college and looking around at my peers with the overwhelming feeling that this was not where I belonged. I just couldn’t see myself being happy getting a “real” job after college and finding fulfillment being a part of that world (Though I am thankful that much of what I learned is applicable as a small business owner).

It wasn’t until I graduated college and stopped by to see a friend’s work at Soulard Art Gallery in 2023 that I really had that lightbulb moment of, “Oh, this is something people do. This is something I can do!” I went home and submitted to the next call for art they had and got accepted! It was my first time ever showing my work to the outside world and I had no idea at the time what being a part of that exhibit would set into motion. Through getting involved in showing my work locally and getting to know other artists in the St. Louis community, it all quickly snowballed into me building the confidence to pursue being a working artist and truly putting my all into myself and my art. I absolutely believe I have found my people, and found my calling and there is nowhere I would rather be. 

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 am a surrealist pop artist and work mainly in acrylic paint as well as digital illustration. One of my favorite things to incorporate into my work is the use of Uv/blacklight reactive and glow in the dark mediums to allow my work to present differently in different lighting. Like all art should, I feel my body of work gives insight into who I am as a person, and often reflects my own interests. Music is my second love behind art. Though I am not a musician, I have so much appreciation for what they do as artists which is why I also do musician and band portraits painted on real vinyl records.
The other recurring themes throughout my work are childhood nostalgia (I’m forever a 90’s kid at heart!) and skeletons. I find human anatomy so fascinating and fun to paint, and use skeletons in my paintings to represent aspects of the human condition like our fears, anxieties, and discomfort. While human skeletons are natural and relatable (everyone has bones!) bringing them to the surface often feels strange and a little scary, much like bringing things like mental health and our inner thoughts and feelings to light can feel at times.
I think my work perfectly captures the duality of (wo)man. It can be dark, surreal and creepy, but also whimsical, fun and nostalgic at times. As I continue to create and build up my body of work, I am discovering more about myself and am so eager to share that with the world.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think the biggest battle I have had to overcome in my journey as an artist was really all about building my confidence in myself and my work. The reason why so much of my art focuses on nostalgia is because I am trying to get back to that childlike mindset. When you’re a kid, you feel like anything is possible, the world is full of magic and adventure and you’re so eager to learn and explore. But slowly in the transformation into adulthood, something happens along the way. You start to care what others think and get self conscious. You want to fit in with the norms and one day you realize that you stopped chasing that magic.
For me a lot of what I have been “unlearning” has been that pressure to blend in and go along with whatever everyone else is doing. I was so afraid for so many years to put myself out there and show my work to others. It has been so freeing to overcome that fear and begin to believe in myself again!

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

The most important resource for me has been the other creatives in my community that I have built relationships with. As someone who is very much an introvert, I don’t think I understood at first just how valuable having such an amazing network of like minded people could be. The art community in St. Louis has been so uplifting and encouraging. I am always learning from my peers, and they are constantly inspiring me and motivating me to focus on my continued growth as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kimberlynrenee.squarespace.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreneeart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimberlynReneeArt