The Knicks, 2022
Kelly Shami's practice is rooted in the middle eastern millennial lexicon, creating a language based on the consumption of two opposing worlds but meeting together with glamour on the canvas. She utilizes the accessories, specifically the gems and stones of each studded piercing, as signifiers to weave differing mythologies through the lens of commodified goods. From the evil eye piercing to the signature rasta colors piercing to the precious pearls, each gem adds to the psychological grand narrative of Shami's paintings.
Kelly Shame (b. 1991, New Jersey) completed her B.F.A from The School of Visual Arts, New York, in 2013. She is a first-generation American Artist of Syrian and Lebanese descent.