Art Gallery

Artist Bio

Kelly Walsh is a hand weaver living and working in the research triangle of North Carolina. She worked as a web developer for years before deciding to leave the tech industry to follow her textile artist dreams. Her work has been exhibited in several galleries and shows in North
Carolina including the Museum of Life and Science, the Durham Art Guild, the Penland Gallery and the Greenhill Center for NC Art. She was an American Craft Council Randall Darwall Grant Recipient in 2020. Kelly was a resident artist at Liberty Arts from 2020-2023 before moving to her own studio space in Durham. In 2025 she received the Best Durham Artist award at Centerfest from the Durham Arts Council.

Artist Statement

My artistic practice is centered on the principles of tactility, sustainability, and functionality. I am fascinated by the tactile nature of textiles and their practical purpose in our daily lives. I work exclusively with natural fibers, and seek out sustainably grown, processed and dyed yarn wherever I can. Each piece I create is meticulously woven from countless individual strands of yarn on mechanical floor looms. I like exploring color and texture to bring my cloth to life, giving it beauty as well as purpose. My goal is to evoke a desire to engage with my art; I want you to feel compelled to touch and experience the texture of my fabrics.

Current Collections

These are various collections that I am currently adding works to as I explore themes and ideas. These works are likely to be currently on exhibit somewhere or avaiable for sale. Please contact me if you'd like to see them in your space, either temporarily or permanently!

Ongoing

Windows

Windows have a unique fascination for me. The purpose of a window is particular in that it is something to see through, to give you a glimpse into another space but it does not allow you to enter that other space. A window is a transparent boundary, it defines otherness. As a neurodivergent person, I sometimes feel like I look at the world through a window. Working with these familiar shapes, but distorted through shadow and light, allows me to explore these feelings about difference and communication.

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Ongoing

In My Garden

My recent work has been inspired by my deepening relationship with my garden and my interest in historical weaving drafts. Overshot and Summer/Winter are two categories of weaving structures that were historically used for coverlets and blankets by home weavers in the Appalachian mountains. By combining these structures with dyeing and woven inlay techniques, I am trying to capture the sensory experience of specific moments in my garden.

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Ongoing

Small Works

These smaller works are usually playgrounds for trying new techniques, or because I just had a whim. Enjoy them!

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Previous Exhibits

These are specific exhibits that were unique or special, and I want to be able to share the works as a group, how they were originally viewed together. Many of these pieces are installation work, or were created especially for a particular event and may or may not be available for sale.

August - October 2025 at the Truist Art Gallery

Making A Place

Curated by Sara-Ann Austin and Kelly Walsh

The central theme of the proposed art show is "making a place." The show aims to explore how local Raleigh/Durham female artists create a sense of place and space for themselves in their artistic practice, particularly focusing on art forms traditionally associated with "homemaking" such as textiles and quilting. The show aims to challenge the distinctions between craft and art and to showcase the transformative potential of these art forms.

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May - April 2022 Liberty Arts little Gallery

Threads That Bind

I have always been fascinated by the tactile nature of textiles and their place in our world as functional items. There isn't one moment of our lives when fabric doesn't play a role. I love weaving precisely because of how tactile it is, and how much time I get to spend touching the yarn while enjoying the colors. Every strand of yarn is carefully threaded into the loom, and every inch of fabric is created by building one thread on the next, interweaving them to create intricate patterns. The art of weaving is considered one of the oldest technologies in the world, and while the fundamental mechanics haven't changed very much, our personal relationship with textiles has changed dramatically in modern times. I hope my work encourages viewers to contemplate the role of textiles in their own lives.

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