MEET THE ARTIST: Kristin Culmo

Who is KC?
I was born and raised in Miami, moved to Brooklyn, NY to study communication design in 2009 and lived there for almost twelve years, and about one year ago relocated with my partner and our dog to Pittsburgh, PA. I’m currently a freelance graphic designer and work a lot with small brands and businesses, I’m the communications director for an artist residency program that I helped establish during the pandemic in 2020, and I work on my dyeing side hustle when I am in the mood and when I have time!

Where do you find inspiration?
First off, I think color is truly magical, and I find colors themselves to be innately inspiring. I also find visual inspiration in my surroundings; I think my love of vibrant colors definitely comes from growing up in Miami where the atmosphere is tropical and bright. Living in NYC which is mostly concrete and now Pittsburgh which often has very dreary weather, I find refuge and joy in working with bright colors - not necessarily bright as in neon, but vibrant, rich, deep, moody colors. It’s meditative and probably also therapeutic for me – I can honestly get lost looking closely at my fabrics and admiring the way the colors blend with each other and form moments, rhythms, and patterns. I’ve tried to tone down my color choices, work on neutral color palettes and more minimal dye patterns, but I somehow usually end up making things really colorful and take a more maximal approach. So, I try not to fight it because it’s what I naturally gravitate towards, and it makes me happy.

Living in New York City in my 20s was very inspiring and motivating and definitely made me the person I am today. I loved being around other creatives and the constant energy in the city. Just due to the nature of going almost everywhere by public transportation and on foot, you end up meeting people you never thought you’d meet, doing things you never thought you’d do, and just having unique experiences and visual stimulation all the time. Many of the people I met and became friends with, and different jobs and gigs I worked, led to collaborations and creative relationships that were inspiring and important to my growth. Not to mention all the art and music, both professional and amateur, I had access to just from living and bopping around the city. It was an inspiring time in my life for sure.

Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Yes, art 100% helps me in other areas of my life. Particularly dyeing, which is a pretty slow process, helps me slow down and be patient. I’ve heard this sentiment from other dyers and it’s so true… whenever I try to rush the process, the fabric almost never comes out how I want it to, even if I’m repeating a recipe and a technique I’m confident in. There is always an aspect of surprise and unpredictability in dyeing which I have a love/hate relationship with. I’m kind of a perfectionist, so dyeing literally forces me to let go of control, immerse myself in the process, and enjoy the imperfection. My dye practice gives me an outlet and an escape that I’m really grateful to have – I know not everyone has the time or resources to have an artistic practice or hobby that they don’t depend on for income. Art helps me appreciate what I have, where I’m at in life, and all the love and beauty around me.

What advice would you give to other creatives who are venturing or in the process of starting their journey in the art world?
Art is extremely personal, but also has the ability to make you part of a community and allow you to connect with people. With so much content at our fingertips on Instagram and all over the internet, it can seem impossible to create something truly unique and new, especially if you are a creator who wants to sell your work or start a business based on your art. My advice is to try to tune out the noise from the outside world and really tap into what you are naturally being drawn towards creating, then work on mastering that by turning it into a practice. Form relationships with other creatives and be open to collaboration and critique to help propel you forward. Reach out to people and talk about your art if you feel stuck. It sounds cheesy, but the motto from my college has always stuck with me – “Be true to your work, and your work will be true to you.”