How did you get into making art?
I’m lucky to come from a family of artists. I grew up in a home where expression and dedication to a craft was really respected. So really, I’ve been working in my dad’s studio since I was a kid. I always felt a pull to work with my hands and initially I actually went to school for baking and pastry because there is something so elemental about connecting through food. I baked bread and worked in kitchens for awhile before actually going back for a traditional arts education to get my MFA.
What are you currently working on?
I’ve been diving deep into a new series of sculptures that are much more personal and narrative than anything I’ve ever allowed myself before. They focus on unearthing symbols, almost like a net dragging across the bottom of the ocean. The forms are much more challenging and require a negotiation of a system with its own set of rules. I’ve also been taking time to experiment and play, introducing new materials like stone and glass beads to shake things loose.
I’ve become really interested in past selves and how they are preserved, transformed, and forgotten.
Taylor Kibby
What inspired you to get started on this body of work?
The last year offered a lot of time for introspection and quiet. I’ve become really interested in past selves and how they are preserved, transformed, and forgotten. Almost like digging through the layers of an archeological site, searching for symbols to attach meaning to. The forced space of the last year really highlighted how I protect myself and my desire to ease those restrictions through storytelling, even in the most abstract way.
Do you work on distinct projects or do you take a broader approach to your practice?
I am all about small moves. I really love sitting in ideas and ways of making; the meditation of repetition is the only way I’m able to really know and move through an idea. It is incremental but constant evolution. I don’t work towards specific end goals because for me the slow unfurling of ideas has lead to healthy growth.
What’s a typical day like in your studio?
I’m much more focused in the morning, so I get an early start with a cup of tea and basically keep my head down until late afternoon. My work demands long hours of repetitive making so my days shift between execution and ideation, both aren’t always happening all the time. Having a balance is important to me since I’ve only recently found it, so making it home to make dinner is also an important counter weight.
Who are your favorite artists?
Some of my favorites are Gonzalo Fonseca, Ruth Asawa, Hugh Hayden and Nevine Mahmoud. Also, I’m surrounded by amazing artists in my friends.
Where do you go to discover new artists?
I go see shows whenever I can in LA, lots of amazing work at Nonaka-Hill, Night Gallery, South Willard and Francios Ghebaly. And of course the inescapable Instagram.
Taylor Kibby is an artist based in Los Angeles who was recently shortlisted for The Hopper Prize. To learn more about the artist:
