Kelly Reemtsen

It must have been around 2012 when I first saw Kelly Reemtsen’s work, long before Dressed To Match was even a “thing.” I was instantly drawn to her subjects, female figures wearing designer dresses while holding heavy duty tools like chainsaws, hedge trimmers, shovels and axes. In some cases, Kelly’s women are seen perched on ladders, chairs and podiums, rising beyond the canvas and pushing through the metaphorical glass ceiling. In other words, GIRL POWER! Kelly’s women can tackle any task at hand and do so with grace and elegance.

Another aspect of Kelly’s work that I love is the manner in which she paints. I guess I developed my love for impasto through Wayne Thiebaud’s work, but I love that her canvases are loaded with rich paint. She is able to build form and structure, creating a rigidness that reads as strength and composure. The textural component really adds to the experience of viewing the work, too — visible brushstrokes create movement across the canvas, invigorating the surface with hints of energy.

Kelly Reemtsen | Snip, 2019 | Oil on panel | 60 X 60

Matching Kelly’s work from David Klein Gallery at Art Miami was a dream come true. Her work obviously lends itself to Dressed To Match but it’s easier said than done. As I previously mentioned, Kelly’s figures are typically dressed to the nines, wearing designer duds head to toe. Prior to the match, I had no idea that she painted real designer dresses, so while doing my normal extreme googling to find a match for a few of her pieces, I realized - wow, these are real dresses!!

After I got over my initial patting myself on the back for finding the EXACT dresses, I realized there was no way I’d be able to make a match happen with her work simply due to the cost of the dresses. Lucky for me, Kelly stepped in and offered a helping hand. She loaned me this Dior dress from the painting to wear with it for my shot! I can’t tell you how honored I was to not only wear her dress but also pay her and her work homage through my page.

It’s funny how life works - if you would have asked me in 2012 if I could see myself working with Kelly in any capacity I would have laughed. No way! But, here we are and I am so grateful for the opportunity.

If you’re interested in learning more about Kelly and her work, she is represented by David Klein Gallery in Detroit, Michigan.