Kelly Robert

Kelly Robert was born in Newport Beach, California in 1976. She lives and works in Massa Italy.

Robert studied sculpture at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2001. Following a period of teaching art and creating her own line of jewelry, she completed her Master of Fine Arts at the New York Academy of Art (NYAA) in 2020. During her time at NYAA, Robert received several merit-based scholarships as well as two sculpture residencies in Carrara Italy.

Robert’s sculptures are expressions of strength. Her inspiration is people who, after facing intense personal adversity and struggles, pull through the difficulty of the moment and arise with confidence and strength. She purposefully exaggerates the twisting poses beyond the natural form to emphasize the energy and the power that are released in this moment of hope.

Her sculptures are angular yet curvaceous. These undulating surfaces and gently pointed edges are reminiscent of nature itself. Robert feels these elements and the shadows they create allow the viewer to visually travel the piece similarly to how one observes a rolling sand dune or a mountain range.

Robert creates sculptures in terracotta, bronze and marble. The terracotta sculptures are created in a coil method and have an internal support in the same material but are essentially hollow inside. She meticulously sands the surface to a smooth, stone-like finish after which they are fired and painted. The colors of the sculptures are chosen to speak to the intended energy of the pose.

Robert has exhibited her sculptures in numerous shows and they have been acquired by several important collections.