hi, im kelsey also known as Italia...

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i started creating art at the age of 3.. i grew up in a family of artist. My father a professional tattoo artist, along with my grandma and great grandpa both professional painters. growing up in tattoo shops, seeing their art being celebrated across the world, their paintings being hung in galleries to be admired, and the way their art changed people's lives... it was all a true inspiration. everything that they taught me, along with trials and tribulations throughout my life has made me into the artist that i am today.

 

my Dads rockstar lifestyle had a huge influence on me, i learned how to tattoo at the age of 8, by 16 i had already tattooed myself multiple times and started my journey to become professional. my tattoos are small little totems to moments in my life, things i love and things that got me through hardships. over time I've blended my tattoo obsession in with my paintings by incorporating some of my signature tattoos as trademarks.

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Growing up in LA the culture is music, I've developed a love for so many genres and i like to incorporate that into my art by showing ohmage to the Artist that was there for me in times of solitude and gratitude through their music. 

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My biggest inspiration is my baby brother Ryley... raising a brother with disabilities shaped me into being the person i am today. My brother was the best thing to happen to me and without him none of this would of been possible. i spent 19 years dedicating my life to taking care of him. so, in honor of him... I've spent the last 4 years since he gained his wings, taking care of myself. finding myself again and who Kelsey really is with in my art, i know that's what he would want. The cartoonish look to my paintings was influenced by us watching cartoons together growing up, it was our thing. so now i pay tribute by mixing cartoon with realism. Looney Tunes, Roger Rabbit, Peter pan and Alice in wonderland all play parts in my art whether it's transpired through the background with swirls, clouds, galaxies, or just the cartoon characters themselves. 

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But even with all that said, it's no secret that I'm a rebel... yes there's a lot of personal meaning and drive behind my art but there's also my fun wild side that grew up idolizing playboy bunnies and sex symbols like Pamela Anderson and Marylin Monroe which now plays a huge role in the art that i create.

 

for me, Painting has become my diary where i talk about the People and the things i love the most, my lifestyle, my feelings, comfortability in my own self and body and last, and certainly least... my hardships. but most importantly i create art that i love and i hope you love it too, thank you for visiting my website <3