Kelly Brazil

Kelly's Arts on Chicago Project »

Kelly Brazil is a queer Minneapolis-based emerging artist born and raised in Faribault, MN. They live in community with other activists and artists in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood, a neighborhood Brazil has called home for over 10 years. Kelly has spent the last 15 years striving to create something functional from the discarded materials found on the ground. In 2011, Brazil was chosen as artist in residence for Kulture Klub Collaborative, an independent arts organization that brings together artists and homeless youth. Together with youth and visiting artists, they spent the summer and late fall building raised beds for a food garden and transforming the underused backyard of a transitional living program for formerly homeless youth into an art project. In 2010 Brazil submitted a piece of art for the “Foot in the Door 4” art exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, an arts event that happens every 10 years. In 2008 they were asked to create a piece of art for “Art Wise: 15 years of Kulture Klub” held a the Soo Visual arts Center in Minneapolis. Their work has also been shown in Kennebunkport, Maine, and several locations in Minneapolis including Salon D’Pugh and Madame for the Arts. Kelly was awarded “Best Unspoken Word” by the Twin Cities Pride Art Show judges  for a piece that was primarily made from discarded adult sex toys. In March of 2007 Kelly had the great honor of holding an art opening with Chamindika Wanduragala, a Sri Lankan American Minneapolis-based artists for the Grand Opening of the Pi Bar and Restaurant (RIP, Pi). Brazil is the founder of The Dirty Queer Show, an event that highlights non-mainstream performance and visual art. The Dirty Queer Show is in planning stages to present their fifth edition. Stay tuned. Brazil also spends time volunteering as an Advisory Board member for the Trans Youth Support Network, a partnership of youth and community members working together to support trans youth in Minnesota. Kelly is employed as a part-time case manager for the GLBT Host Home Program of Avenues for Homeless Youth, a community-based program that provides stable and safe housing for GLBT youth.

Artist Statement

I find great pleasure in picking up junk on the street or highway. Often the pieces have rusted off of a vehicle due to wear and tear or just simply because of the organic relationship between the elements and metal. Sometimes I can imagine what the found item will transform into as I am holding it, especially if it is unique or different in some way. The idea of re-purposing junk for functionality is challenging and important to me. I love watching what happens when something as cold and rusty as metal is added to something like a flower in a bud vase. It changes the coldness into warmth and beauty. The final pieces are usually sold to someone who really connects with this art form.

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