Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/380056
of metal. Kelley says winning the art award showed him that having a life as an artist was a real possibility. "Mentally it just secured the fact that I was able to take a different route," he says. "This whole other route just kind of opened up." These days, the self-taught artist can be found in his home-based workshop, where he solders, cuts, twists, and transforms metal into beautiful pieces of art. He specializes in making trees that look like they're growing out of a stone base but also produces other pieces, too, and is especially drawn to nature. In a world of mass-produced art, Kelley says he's dedicated to making every piece unique, no matter how much his business grows. In fact, he loves being able to create custom pieces that are unique for every client. For example, "I love taking the stone that I use as a base from the person's yard or from a place that they've been," Kelley says. That dedication to his craft has started attracting broader attention. What began as a word-of-mouth business for family and friends has quickly bloomed into some- thing much bigger. He not only creates cus- tom commissions that can fetch anywhere from $100 to $5,000 or more but has also been tapped by Beverly-based interior de- signer Amanda Greaves to create custom pieces for local businesses. "I think he has a really great energy," Greaves says. "His trees are amazing." And although he's young, Kelley is already very involved in the North Shore arts community, working to bring a new, ne 36 nshoremag.com October 2014 youthful vibe to seaside galleries that are so often crowded with paintings of ocean scenes in gilded frames. He's a member of the Newburyport Art Association and also serves on its board of directors. "I thought that I would be able to give a younger perspective," he says. "I'm a 21-year- old guy that found a passion, and so far that passion has been leading to success." Art Industrial Tools Kelley uses stone cutting tools to shape the bases for his wire sculptures. photograph by trevor denman (left); by kerstin darsney (right)