Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylee Bender.
Hi Kaylee, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been drawing on all of the things I wasn’t supposed to do since I can remember. My ceilings, dressers, and homework, were covered in silly little creatures to keep me distracted and busy. Making up little songs and stories for myself and my younger sisters. I actually turned away from more structured art in high school and college, I guess I thought it would help me to blend in. That was… not the case.
Art came back to me in full force in 2018 after my first break up, I would spend all of my free time playing in old painting books, marking up the pages. It was completely new to me. I even impulse-bought my first DJ controller and learned the Glory of Garageband. Later that year, my gramma kickstarted my career by asking for my first painting commission. Honestly, she was my only customer for a long time, eventually, other family and friends would follow suit!
In 2020, after years in soul-squandering customer service gigs, I finally went full-time with visual art. In a matter of weeks, I was live painting at events like the Acoma Street Project and celebrations at the Aurora Mall, I was blessed by a community with opportunities I’d never dreamed of. Now, two years into this full-time ride, I’m lucky to have worked alongside the likes of Major League Baseball and The Denver Art Museum. I’m feeling lucky to be in these arenas, sharing our stories and the beauty of the world and people around me through visual art, education, and now music.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This question made me laugh, No! Aside from navigating a pandemic, you uncover a lot about yourself during the adjustment process. At the same time, I was learning what it meant to be diagnosed with C-PTSD, and that drastically changed how I interact with my day to day, the purpose of my art shifted. Art became a tool for emotional processing, a tool for being present.
There have been periods where I felt like I had lost myself to the influence of others, and I felt unable to make space for processing in my art. It became impersonal. Countless times I have had to reevaluate how to sustainably create art for others while keeping room for my authentic self. This is an active process, but it feels a little easier every day.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a painter, poet, DJ, and musician, and I’m sure there is more to discover. I flock to the medium and will speak my truth at that moment. I love to chase magic. While I specialize in painting and visual art, my other crafts weave themselves through the fabric of all of my art. My poetry and music help to build a complete vision of the world that I live within.
Honestly, I am most proud of the way I give love to all parts of my expression. It has taken a lifetime (and will take the rest of this lifetime) to get to know all of the different artists in me that ask to be heard and seen. I’m lucky to be a celebrated visual artist, but I know that living in all these creative dimensions is what sets me apart. I celebrate my full self.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I am excited to share that I’ve been working on a collection inspired by the phenomenon of the Catacomb Saints, celebrating the self and body as divine experiences. In January, I will be displaying one of my largest pieces from the collection at the new Green Spaces community space in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. This series reflects the ornate beauty and function of personal ornament, exploring how the way we decorate and present ourselves communicates our truths and stories, especially after death.
You can also check out my newest mural “An Ode to Happiness” outside of Green Spaces (2590 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Nokaylee.com
- Instagram: @nokaylee
Image Credits
Valerie C. Rowe @v.c.r.creatives and Matty Schmalz @matty_schmalz
