Life & Work with Ivey Zoellers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivey Zoellers. 

Hi Ivey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I am a Missouri artist local to the KC Metro area. I graduated from the University of Central Missouri in 2012 upon receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and again in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. My mission is to seek out opportunities centered around painting and teaching others how to paint. Much of my current work features the autonomy of birds conveyed through the application of bright and expressive colors with bold marks aiming to represent the fluttery movement of flight. I work as a professional art instructor and art advocate in the greater KC Metro area. I frequently have work on display across Missouri open to the public at various venues ranging from curated spaces within small businesses to solo exhibitions at larger prolific galleries as well as local art fairs. You can see more of my work and daily studio life on Instagram by following @ivey.zoellers.art as well as on Facebook by following the page Ivey Zoellers Art. 

Prior to 2016, I spent several years creating politically driven art. At the end of 2016 I realized that if I wanted to see a more joyful world, I would have to transform my art and birds became the catalyst for that joy. I have been using my current body of work to explore movement, time, and space while also taking on the challenge of capturing the freedom and adaptable nature of birds. Studying the diversity of colors, shapes, avian social constructs and folklore has been a source of inspiration as I attempt to portray joy within my paintings and spread this joy to others. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like all artists in a deflated economy, I too have endured challenges in terms of finding success in the fine art world. I often wonder if appreciation for the arts will ever be revitalized in my lifetime. I spend a great deal of time seeking mentorship during art fairs by talking to artists who have been around long enough to understand the ebb and flow of the creative consumer. The digital landscape of our world has added another layer of nuance to the art of the sale. Social media has allowed me to expand my audience which is a wonderful tool, but it has also made my creative colleagues and I vulnerable to copywrite infringement which can have devastating effects on our financial stability. Just last month one of my peers discovered her art was being sold and distributed by an online poster company without her consent. The online algorithms are also unkind and forever-changing for artists. With all that being said, social media has allowed me to build relationships with artists far and wide which has greatly and positively influenced my art. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
It has always been my ambition to use my skills as an artist and educator to bring about meaningful societal change for the greater good. My Senior show in 2012 was motivated by Cancer Awareness inspired by the journey my younger brother endured as he battled for remission. After I left the structure of a college environment, I found myself creatively adrift. Most of my work in the studio was purely symptomatic of the political landscape of my environment. I reflected the actions of government, society’s reaction to the war machine and the capitalist gains it provided the upper-class, and the effects of the choir of divisive rhetoric sung by politicians on both sides of the aisle. My art had taken an emotional toll on me over the years and I wasn’t seeing evidence of my labor bearing fruit. I realized at the end of 2016 that if I wanted to see a more joyful world, I would have to transform my art and birds became the catalyst for that joy. 

I enjoy using layers of bright colors and blocking in my images with bold intersecting lines. In my attempt at commentary about my views on space and time I often forgo structured perceptions of depth by overlapping figures of birds as if they might exist on different planes of reality within a particular moment in time. Viewers may notice holes or “windows” in the layers of paint that are intended to offer a peek behind the chronicle curtain of time to allow one to see the painting as it once was in a previous state while also being able to appreciate the piece as it is now. This is my way of pulling the viewer into a space where they occupy two timelines, the past, and present, simultaneously. The goal is to push the viewer into a moment of consideration for the future and wonder what is yet to come. 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I believe that it is critical to maintain humility and seek out opportunities for mentorship. I am always prepared to receive feedback from someone who has been working in the art industry longer than myself. I appreciate having the chance to learn from creatives who have dedicated themselves to their craft. I admire artists like Leonardo da Vinci who lived his whole life believing it was important to always remain a student at heart. I am also an art teacher and I wish to be a good role model for my students. There is always something new to learn or a skill that needs practicing. I still aspire to accomplish so much with my art and I think this outlook is the key to maintaining career stamina as a fine artist. 

Pricing:

• Large works range from $1200-$3000
• Medium works range from $500-$1000
• Small works range from $50-$300

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://iveyzoellers.wordpress.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivey.zoellers.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivey.zoellers.art

Image Credits
Ivey Zoellers