Kelly Bjork

posted by Charlotte Windsor May 20, 2017

Kelly Bjork is an artist and freelance illustrator whose work focuses on portraiture and intimacy between friends and belongings. She grew up in Tacoma, Washington and graduated from Western Washington University in 2009 with a BFA in drawing and printmaking. Her work has been published in numerous magazines and online journals including McSweeney’s, The Stranger, Seattle Met, Fresh Magazine, BOOOOOOOM, and Sixth Finch. Kelly is a card illustrator for Pilgrim Paper Co., a paper goods company based in Seattle, where she currently lives.

Being inspired by her day-to-day interactions with other humans and animals Kelly captures the sweetness that can be experienced in this world, as she feels it’s important to still have these moments and remember they exist.

Sharing intimate and personal moments through her paintings “Tiger Overhead” “Butt Island” and “Singing Bowl Soak” Kelly hopes to soften the viewer, allowing for more openness and vulnerability.

“Significant Objects” is a collection of illustrations done in collaboration with Kelly’s partner Joe Rudko for a love themed art show in 2014. They chose to illustrate objects in their home that held significant meaning between the two of them. Since they’ve worked together over time, it’s hard to tell who did which drawing.

www.kellybjork.com