Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly O’Neill.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been an artist. It’s simply who I am. Over the years, I’ve explored it all: drawing, sewing, painting, photography, pottery, and sculpture. My earliest inspiration was my dad, a lifelong creator whose curiosity seemed endless. My first memories are of his bold abstract oil paintings, then the glow of his darkroom where he developed black-and-white photos , usually of his kids.
He went through creative “eras,” and we were always along for the ride. There was his sandcastle phase, the first time he let me help. I still remember the thrill of using the blowtorch, feeling trusted and part of something magical. Later, after I left for college, he discovered pottery, the art form that became his true passion.
While he was deep in clay, I was building a different kind of life; a career with General Motors that moved me around the country. In the 1980s, when I returned to Michigan for a few years, I took a pottery class with him at our local community center. We were lucky enough to study under Robert Piepenburg, a legend in raku glazing. That shared experience became one of my favorite memories with him before my career whisked me away again.
By the mid-1990s, I was back home, raising a family. My creative energy found small outlets: Halloween costumes, school projects, holiday decorations, but nothing that truly fed my artistic soul. Years later, when my son was grown, I finally had time to create again.
By then, my dad was selling his pottery at art fairs, displaying it on store-bought stands and frames. We often talked about designing something custom. Something that would elevate and distinguish his work. That idea led me to enroll in a welding class at the local community college. I began experimenting with scrap metal and fabrication tools, and from the very first spark, I knew I had found something special. Metalwork tapped a dormant part of my creativity that came roaring back to life.
Sadly, just as I was rediscovering my artistic voice, my dad was losing his. Cancer took him before we could bring our shared vision to life. A month after his passing, I found myself in his studio, finishing his pieces, firing greenware, glazing bisque and feeling his presence all around me. My mom noticed it too, and she suggested I continue his legacy by showing our work together.
She contacted the organizers of Art on the Grand, and they welcomed me to that year’s show. I displayed my dad’s pottery on my steel stands; his art and mine, together at last. The response was deeply moving. People loved the connection between the two mediums. Even Robert Piepenburg stopped by and praised the collaboration.
That experience gave me the courage to continue. What began as a tribute to my father became my own artistic path. More than ten years later, I still do a few art fairs each year, but my work has grown into something bigger; public sculptures, commissions, and gallery exhibitions.
Through it all, I feel my dad’s spirit beside me, still inspiring, still creating, still reminding me why I started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road definitely hasn’t been smooth, but every bump has pushed me to grow in ways I never expected.
For years, I was stretched thin. I had a demanding career at General Motors that I truly loved, a busy family life full of sports and activities, and a deep desire to keep creating art. Balancing all three felt like juggling fire; thrilling, but exhausting.
My first major roadblock came early on, when I was kicked out of my local community college welding class. The instructor appreciated my artistic approach, but a new director didn’t share his enthusiasm. I was told to “cease and desist” from pursuing my art and to follow the syllabus of t-welds on coupons. It was discouraging, to say the least — I had just found this exciting new medium, and suddenly the door slammed shut.
But as luck would have it, another instructor quietly pulled me aside and told me about a nearby college with a dedicated metal sculpture program. That tip changed everything. It was the lifeline I needed. Working with metal requires space, tools, and community. Things I couldn’t easily replicate at home.
Additionally, I found refuge in a local makerspace — a perfect creative home where I could weld, experiment, and dream big. But after a year, it too closed its doors. So, with my husband’s encouragement, we decided to build a small studio on our property. It wasn’t easy — our HOA wasn’t exactly thrilled about a welding shop in the neighborhood — but eventually, I carved out a space of my own.
Just as I found my rhythm again, the community college with the sculpture program changed direction and told me I could no longer use their facilities outside of class projects. So yes, I was kicked out again.
But by then, I’d learned to see every setback as redirection. I found another makerspace; an even better fit, and it’s been my creative home ever since.
The path has been anything but smooth, but every obstacle has taught me resilience. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that when one door closes, a welder can always make her own.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is always evolving, but its heart remains the same, transforming discarded steel and forgotten materials into something new and expressive. I love the hunt for raw materials: wandering through metal scrap yards, collecting donated pieces, or discovering unexpected treasures that spark new ideas.
In recent years, I’ve been blending my growing passion for pottery with my metalwork, exploring how these two worlds — earth and steel — can coexist in a single sculpture. Faces often emerge in my work, sometimes realistic, sometimes abstract, always with my unique take and design.
Color has become an essential part of my creative language. By incorporating powder coating, fused glass and solid glass accents, I bring light and vibrancy into my sculptures, small bursts of brilliance that contrast the rugged strength of metal. This evolution has opened new doors for me, with more of my pieces being accepted into public art spaces.
Each sculpture tells a story of renewal of materials, of craft, and of myself as an artist constantly pushing boundaries.
What’s next?
The future feels wide open right now, bright, exciting, and full of possibility. For the first time in a long while, I feel ready to invest in both my business and myself. I’ve returned to a regular yoga practice, which has done wonders for my strength and flexibility; two things that matter a lot when you’re wrangling heavy steel into shape. The difference is immediate: I feel stronger, more centered, and my stamina has doubled.
On the creative side, I’m thrilled about a new addition to my studio: a sheet metal roller. I lost access to one a few years ago, and it really limited my ability to create curved, fabricated forms. After holding out for too long, I finally decided to take the leap and invest in my own. It arrives next week, and I can already feel the spark of new ideas waiting to take shape.
Sometimes, an artist is only as free as the tools they have. With this new piece of equipment, I feel like I’m unlocking a whole new chapter in my work.
Beyond the studio, I’ve submitted a proposal for a permanent sculpture installation at a local country club; an opportunity that could open doors for more private commissions. I’m also preparing for two upcoming gallery exhibits and planning to continue my rhythm of participating in three art fairs each year. Those shows are not only great for sales, but they also connect me directly with people who feel inspired by what I make.
Right now, I’m simply grateful for the work, the growth, and the momentum. It feels like everything is coming together in a really meaningful way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.fusionofironandearth.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/iron.n.earth
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/LuvMiArt
