Kelly Spell is an award-winning quilter living in Hixson, Tennessee. Her abstract modern quilts have been featured in numerous publications, shows, and museums around the world, including the National Quilt Museum, Asheville Art Museum, and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Kelly’s quilts feature bold designs and dynamic color combinations. She has several ongoing series that feature various riffs on circular designs.

I make modern quilts that are a celebration of color and shape. My bold, abstract designs feature dynamic palettes that emphasize contrast in value and hue. A love of circles and swirls drives my current work, which explores ideas of movement, energy, and the exertion of control amid broader chaos.

In 2020, my artistic practice became very process driven and precision focused. Reflecting on it now, the shift was a subconscious reaction to the turbulence and uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and other events. Quilts are a refuge where I seek both calm and control.

An intense curiosity drives my work. I employ a variety of techniques; some are cutting edge and others are rooted in the time-honored tradition of American quiltmaking. I enjoy experimenting with the fundamentals of color theory and using them to manipulate the way designs are perceived. Recently I started dyeing and printing my own cloth to further those investigations.

With many layers of meaning and representation stitched into each quilt, my work reflects my experience of the world and helps me forge bonds with viewers and other makers.