May 2025
Kelly Klick
For this month, WRAC revisits the artistic career of the very busy visual artist Kelly Klick, who has received numerous awards for her painting and clay work. A former midwife, she has lived in Pinawa for the last ten years, and brings her passion for caring for others into her art. She said, “Now that I am retired, my art fills my days and is a conduit to friendships in my community.”
Klick uses clay sculpture, oil painting, and rug hooking to create pieces of art that are shown and worked on as a series. While she is making her pieces, she starts out with a drawn mind map and uses it as a reference. She said, “This keeps each item I’m working on in the same theme and colour palette to ensure cohesion.”
Klick has studio space in W.B. Lewis Business Centre and can often be found at the Pinawa Art Gallery, having conversations with people who have stopped by for good coffee or art-shopping. She said, “I’m totally in love with my art practice. I like to create while I’m around other people.”
When asked how she learned to make art, she says she’s attended many workshops and also participated as a mentee in the Rural Artists Mentorship Program through “Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art.” She said, “I also belong to a sculpting group at the Pinawa Art Gallery. I’d love to see more people join us.”
Citing the generosity of the arts community, she feels grateful to have learned mainly from other artists, who share their knowledge and practices. Recently, she attended a workshop on figurative sculpting held in Bali. To give back to the arts community, Klick cohosts the clay sculpting drop-in at the Pinawa Art Gallery every Thursday evening. She teaches children of all grades, mentors youth in their practices, and runs art experiences for schools.
Also, as president of the Pinawa Art Gallery, she often applies for grants to support the gallery. She said, “I encourage artists to write up grant applications because you learn so much about yourself, your art and the arts community.”
Her work has been exhibited in several galleries and she has an upcoming show titled “Mother Care: celebration of 25 years of regulated midwifery.” She invites everyone to see it at the Gallery 210, 210 Princess Street in Winnipeg. Tuesday to Fridays from 10-4.
Her inspiring words re: art. “Every single person should create. Art has so many definitions. Creating is what feeds our souls, keeps our brains agile and connects us to others.”
