This article is in a series by emerging creatives at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) who explore the many forms of art in the Milwaukee area.
Have you ever imagined a blend of Art Nouveau, Pop-Surrealism, with some fashion illustration? It may be an interesting combination of styles, but it is exactly where Kelly Wagner has taken her work.
From fan art to commercial work, Kelly Wagner creates many graphic works of vibrant colors and unique compositions.
Wagner is a Milwaukee-based illustrator and graphic designer. She was born in Milwaukee and has lived here since. Having graduated from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) in 2009, Wagner is now employed as an Art Director at Kohl’s where she oversees the Jumping Beans Boys, Baby and Little Co. brands.
During her time at MIAD and before, Wagner’s work was rooted in traditional media, where she was reluctant to engage with digital media for anything other than graphic design. Once she saw other artists making use of digital media, however, Wagner decided to invest some time exploring it, and found that she enjoyed using it.
“Adobe Illustrator ended up being my favorite program to work in, and still is,” says Wagner. “I create all of my digital art in this format and love the way that it has developed to include ways that I can add more and more depth to my illustrations."
Traditional painting was the core of teaching her how to use color and shadow.
"Much of what I learned during that time of experimentation is evident in my digital work. I do intend to work with traditional media again in the near future," says Wagner.
Outside of being an Art Director at Kohl’s, Wagner also works on a variety of projects such as greeting cards, ad updates, book covers, apparel graphics, posters and branding. Currently, she says that she is working on some romance novel covers as well as some other personal projects that she plans to share on social media soon.
There are a few subjects that inspire her work.
“I’ve always been interested in the human figure, detailed illustrations, fashion/character-based subject matter and Gothic aesthetics," says Wagner. "Surrealism has had a very large influence on my work, as well as Art Nouveau, Comic and Pop-Surrealist style. I love playing with linework and the way it can create a sense of delicacy or boldness depending on how it is used.”
Much of her work exemplifies these ideas, with visible inspiration from Art Nouveau and Pop-Surrealist styles in particular. Wagner’s work is often characters posed among surreal environments, in positions and styling that reflect the Art Nouveau inspirations. The use of bright colors, imagery and composition also reflects that of Pop-Surrealism.
When looking at the art she creates outside of Kohl’s, Wagner says, “I always love the opportunity to push myself and learn something new, and I highly enjoy working with clients to create something beneficial for them. Working with others is such a joy, and I always say, as long as I have a bunch of creative problems to solve, it will keep me out of trouble."
Outside of art and illustration, Wagner has a variety of interests, including cooking, reading, hosting and learning Japanese.
“I’ve always been interested in learning other languages and my goal is to eventually pass a fluency test, starting with Japanese and potentially others later on,” says Wagner.
But being an artist, whether in a corporate environment or an art studio, is the core of who she is.
“We get to live in a space of wonder and curiosity and translate that into this influential and necessary thing called art in so many different ways," says Wagner. "I'm really enjoying the journey."
