Kelsey Ann Kasom
Fashion MA
Royal College of Art
Graduates: 2022
Specialisms: Womenswear / Formal/Couture / Textile Innovation/Textile Art
My location: London, United Kingdom
Kelsey Ann Kasom
First Name: Kelsey Ann
Last Name: Kasom
University / College: Royal College of Art
Course / Program: Fashion MA
Graduates: 2022
Specialisms: Womenswear / Formal/Couture / Textile Innovation/Textile Art
My Location: London, United Kingdom
Website: Click To See Website
About
As an artist and designer, Kelsey Ann Kasom redefines how space is valued sculpturally. Kelsey was Detroit-born but raised in the countryside of Columbus, Michigan where she began anchoring on creativity as a form of expression. “I grew up surrounded by nature which has instinctively influenced my work today. Having been raised in a low-tech environment my hand intelligence became my primary source of understanding the world around me.” Kelsey explores the intimate relationship she shares with the metaphorical power of her material language. Since graduating Kelsey's work was published in WWD, S/ Magazine, System Magazine, British Fashion Council Graduate Preview, 1 Granary: Reimagining Materiality, and The Dyslexian. Kelsey was identified as 1 of 5 designers and creators whose dyslexia gives them the ability to build, design, create and define the embodiment of the dyslexic aesthetic. Kelsey’s work was exhibited during in San Francisco for Dyslexic Dictionary hosted by Dyslexic Design Thinking at the Arion Press Gallery. Surrounding this event her work was published in 48hills, San Francisco Examiner, and Texintel. Following being shortlisted as part of the Arts Thread Global Design Graduate Show in collaboration with Gucci.She was selected to exhibit during Frieze London 2022 at Zari Gallery and later selected to be exhibited at Vanner Gallery in Salisbury, England. Her work was featured in Vogue Japan and Nasty Magazine. Kelsey was named one of the Top 50 Influential Neurodivergent Women of 2023 by Women Beyond The Box. Kelsey's work Fractal Thinking has been selected to be exhibited at the Queens Botanic Gardens for the Creative Climate Awards hosted by the Human Impacts Institute.
There has always been an indescribable need to exhaust material iterations - to challenge the properties of what we know to then celebrate what something can become. My research began with analyzing the obsessions that I have discovered within my creative process - how can I make a finely woven fiber stronger? Why is this so important to me? Am I the fiber? The work explores conflicting sensations through the act of unveiling the intimate relationship I share with the metaphorical power of my material language. Draping for me is like dancing with my hands. A rhythm of make. It allows me to translate how I feel into form. It is a pure reflection of intensity beyond reason that can consume self, by creating so passionately that pain takes the form of pleasure. Protruding from the hip, opening at the chest for air, encasing the body - a visual strength from the inside-out.