Kelly Brenner

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

My body of work combines illustration, graphic design, and printmaking to explore themes of personal identity and estrangement. By utilizing symbolic imagery, particularly flora, fauna, and

oceanic elements, I create illustrations rooted in personal experience that explore a range of

emotions. These motifs act as a visual language, allowing feelings to be expressed without

words.

I employ the process of intaglio printing using copper plates, drawn to this medium not only

because I enjoy the process of printmaking, but also because I feel a strong connection to the

permanence of the technique. Once an image is etched, I can return to the plate and reprint it

over time. This type of printmaking has an alluring quality that contrasts with the themes within

my work. The process becomes a counterbalance to the themes of impermanence,

displacement, and emotional distance.

These ideas have been developed through the exploration of symbolic systems, including

floriography (language of flowers) and animal iconography, where meaning is embedded

beneath the surface. By combining these references, I create images that function both as

intimate reflections of personal experience and as visually engaging forms that can be

appreciated without fully understanding their underlying significance.

Ultimately, this body of work serves as a way for me to process and preserve personal

experiences that feel distant or unresolved. Through symbolic imagery, I create space for

reflection, for both myself and the viewer, where deeper meanings are embedded within the

work, while at the same time leaving room for ambiguity, allowing each viewer to enjoy the

pieces and find their own interpretations.