Kelley Pettibone: Transforming Grief into Art and Community

News Summary

Kelley Pettibone, an artist and college instructor from South Carolina, is turning her personal grief into art, fostering connections with the community. Through various artistic methods, she explores themes of loss and hope, using her experiences to create a visual vocabulary that resonates with others. Pettibone’s upcoming exhibitions aim to share her work while engaging with the community, highlighting the therapeutic power of creativity amidst personal tragedy.

Columbia, South Carolina – Artist and college instructor Kelley Pettibone is transforming her personal grief into a creative outlet that fosters community and resilience. Over the past decade, Pettibone has navigated the profound losses of her grandparents, parents, and a beloved family pet, leading her to develop an artistic practice that serves as both self-care and a form of expression.

As an only child and a college student, these experiences left Pettibone feeling isolated and overwhelmed. In response, she turned to her home studio, where she creates works that articulate the emotional journey of grief. Her artistic output has become a visual vocabulary that documents this pivotal phase of her life, helping her to process her emotions and connect with broader themes of community and hope.

Pettibone teaches studio drawing, printmaking, and 3-dimensional design courses. Her artistic techniques are vast and varied, incorporating methods such as woodcut, linoleum relief printmaking, and lithography, among others. Recently, she enhanced her home studio with a new press bed, which has allowed her to focus more on printmaking.

In her artwork, Pettibone integrates family ephemera—using materials like clothing, documents, fabrics, and books. She creatively repurposes household items, including butter boxes and cardboard, into collagraph printmaking plates. This method of using familiar materials resonates with her ongoing exploration of what “home” means, especially after the passing of her loved ones. Birds and their nests frequently appear in her work, symbolizing themes of hope and community.

Pettibone’s commitment to sharing her art goes beyond mere personal expression; she has exhibited her work at two exhibitions in South Carolina and has future plans in place. An upcoming exhibition at the Koger Center in Columbia is scheduled for July to September 2025, followed by another exhibition planned for February to March 2026 at Lander University in Greenwood.

Looking ahead, Pettibone intends to participate in local art events, where she will act as a vendor, offering prints, mixed media works, and handprinted goods for sale. This initiative is part of her mission to engage with the community and share her artistic journey with others.

Initially, Pettibone pursued a degree in Biology/Anatomy, but she eventually recognized her passion for creative expression and switched her focus to art. This change has profoundly shaped her outlook on life and work. Pettibone believes that when individuals pursue their passions, it creates a happier world. For her, art is not considered a job or a chore; instead, it is a fulfilling pursuit that brings meaning to her life.

To cope with feelings of overwhelm stemming from her personal experiences, Pettibone participates in spontaneous creative sessions. She finds that these moments allow her to maintain her mental well-being, reinforcing the idea that creativity can be a powerful tool in processing grief and fostering connection.

Kelley Pettibone’s journey represents the intersection of personal tragedy and artistic expression, demonstrating how creativity can provide solace while forming a bridge to community understanding and support. Her work serves as both a testament to her resilience and an invitation for others to explore their own creative paths in the face of loss.

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Additional Resources

• Kelley Pettibone – About
• Wikipedia: Art Therapy
• Kelley Pettibone – Exhibitions
• Google Search: Art and Grief
• Kelley Pettibone – Techniques
• Google Scholar: Art as a Form of Expression
• Kelley Pettibone – Community Engagement
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Grief
• Kelley Pettibone – Future Plans
• Google News: Community Art Events

Author: HERE Greenwood