Building a Sustainable Art Practice with Kennedy B. Holley (KBH)

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Interview with Kennedy Hawley

1:05Welcome back. I am so excited to interview today's artist, Kennedy Hawley. She is also known as KBH Art Things. She's a visual artist who studied at the University of Memphis and recently moved from Memphis, Tennessee to Wilmington, North Carolina. With this big move, she is going all in on her art career and learning the ins and outs of running an art business through real-life experience. Her work focuses on sustainability and the overlooked details of everyday life.

1:38You are going to love this conversation, so let's get into it. Well, to kick things off, can you just introduce yourself and give a little bit of background into you as an artist? All right, so I'm an artist. I went to school in Memphis, Tennessee and studied studio art. Since then, I've been working really hard in Memphis, getting different odd jobs to pay for my art career. This past year, 2025, I decided to put all my focus into my art business.

2:08I had the goal to like slowly get away from doing a job and just going all in on my art career. And that has just been kind of a struggle, like learning the different parts of running an art business. It's a lot more than you would think. But I've always had a creative background, been really interested in expressing myself in different ways. No matter what I was doing, I always felt drawn back to doing art. Yeah. Now that you're making the leap, what is your primary focus in terms of your style, the type of work that you're making?

2:39Can you tell the audience a little bit about that? Yes. My focus is environmental art. I've done a lot of different styles in a lot of different subjects, but that's the thing I'm the most passionate about. So I'm branding myself right now as the trash artist. I go out and pick up trash and I do paintings and different studies that are like based around that. So I'm really interested in the human memory and how what we leave behind is a record of our presence and our connection with and our impact on nature.

3:11That's what I'm really interested in looking into. Yeah. I think it's really cool what you're doing. Can you share how you're taking that subject, that idea, and actually turning it into something physical? Like what does your art look like? How are you making the pieces? The process starts in just being observant everywhere that I go. I'm always looking at what is out of place on the ground. Sometimes I take documentation. I have this trash binder where I like physically collect and it's like a little science book

3:41where I'm collecting and annotating the different trash pieces that I find and then I take a lot of photos. I do a lot of studies on those pieces, just trying to break them down, not so detailed that we're getting into the words and the commercialism of the piece, but just looking at it as any other object you would paint. So I do that as drawings. I'm doing right now a lot of those artist trading cards. I'm doing a lot of those little artist trading cards as a way to do a bunch of little studies of trash pieces.

4:13So that's been fun. And then for bigger projects I've done, like in college, I did a huge deep dive into the litter of cigarettes. So going into even breaking down cigarettes and using the parts into the art. So I might use the trash in a lot of different ways, either as a reference point or physically in my process. Each project has a different approach. A lot of times I'm just using oil paint, but I do like to combine it with repurposed materials and collage and mixed media.

4:47So it can tick on different forms. My style is somewhere between abstract and magical realism. I've gotten more abstract as I see the different marks I'm making. I've gotten more interested in that. Well, what are you specifically interested in right now? Do you have a specific project or subject matter that you're kind of diving in as we speak? I just moved states recently and I applied to a lot of different opportunities. I did get booked for a show in September. I proposed a show called We Were Here.

5:20And that's going to be about like our mark on the world and how I'm seeing like our human footprint in the environment. I'll be focusing in my studio on making a body of work that is specific to that subject. And I'm going to take a lot of different approaches to that, like photography, showing how I take records of those trash pieces to my sketches to final works. Maybe showing the entire process. I love that. I think that'll be really, really cool. We'll kind of switching gears a little bit.

5:51You know, you're making a transition to this being your profession. Obviously, a lot of change comes with that. Can you talk about what does a day or a week look like? How are you spending time between outreach and getting into galleries or doing these shows, you know, actually creating and exploring and being inspired? How do you kind of set up your days and your weeks? It's been quite a learning curve on that. At the beginning when I moved, I didn't have that structure. And I found it's very important for me to have that structure because I can wake up and be like there's endless possibilities of what I can do with my day.

6:23So what I have structured my day around is I do like Monday, our admin day, Tuesday is content, Wednesday and Friday. I do studio days and then Thursday is dedicated to I do marketing as social media marketing as a freelancer to support my art right now. Because with this move, I don't have as much in place financially to support myself. So on the admin day is a lot of what I'll set up for my week, what exactly I'm going to be working on in the studio, as well as applying for different opportunities, finding opportunities and putting them in a spreadsheet.

7:02Answering my emails, doing all that kind of stuff. And then on my studio days, I'll go on the walk and get my inspiration and take in that observation part. I lump that in with my studio days. Yeah, that makes sense. I feel like I'm definitely the type where I have to have a full day for admin, a full day for studio. I'm not good at task shifting back and forth. When it comes to actually seeing the growth in your career, whether that be having someone say yes to doing a show or having interest in some of your work, what tools or channels have been the most effective for you in terms of getting your name out there, getting your art out there?

7:41What's really worked for you, I guess, up to this point? I say personal relationships has been like the biggest driving factor. Memphis' art community was really tight knit. So I got to meet a lot of people and word of mouth connections. That's how I built my newsletter, social media following. And a lot of my clients for a while were just people that I knew who wanted to support me. So I had like family, friends, customers at jobs that I worked that got to know me and then they wanted to support me out of that.

8:15And in that way, I built community and connections that led me to more opportunities. Like I got gallery representation last year at a gallery that I had been wanting to be in for a while because I slowly got to know other people who were in it. The curator of the gallery just through attending art shows in the city, networking at other art shows and art events, going to art meetups, putting yourself out there. Other avenues that I've grown, I'd say social media a little bit, but I haven't made just like brand new clients out of nowhere on social media.

8:50And really, it's always starts with people that I know who maybe recommend me to other people. Word of mouth, getting to know people is always key. Networking in that way is always so helpful. That being said, you said you do a little bit of freelance marketing, social media work and marketing work. How do you think about social media? If that is an area you have expertise in, how much weight do you put into like your own presence versus like, I actually want to get out in the world and meet people? I wasn't putting as much weight on it when I had that community, but now that I have moved states and I don't know anyone, I've been putting a lot more effort into it.

9:26I feel like it is a great way to grow and get more visibility and clients, but I hadn't put as much energy into it. I'd say it is very valuable letting people know what you do, showing them your personality, because a lot of what I've learned is people connect with real people. So they don't just want to see your work. They want to know you as well. I'm using different platforms for different things. I have an art page that's gallery specific. Like here's my art. But then on my TikTok, you might see more of the behind the scenes, the me picking up trash, the fun aspect of it.

10:02And with that, there's so many different ways that you can put yourself out there as an artist that it's actually overwhelming. So I had to get back to the basics and be like, I'm just going to get really good at my Instagram, my TikTok, and my newsletter before I start adding on a sub stack, a Pinterest, a Patreon. I like made all these accounts and it's just like, I can't do all of them. Start small and then grow up. That's exactly what I recommend.

10:32It's hard because I do talk to so many different artists on this podcast. Some people are like, and Pinterest was the thing and my sub stack was the thing and you have to do this, but it's really understanding what works for you. Picking one to three. It's great getting those down really well and sticking with them or deciding and maybe I'll expand from there. That being said, you focus mainly on Instagram, TikTok, and your newsletter. You kind of touched on this, but can you talk about how you're showing up on each? So it's, you know, you said already you're showing a little bit more personality on TikTok, but what is the frequency on each of those platforms? And what type of content are you putting out?

11:03People always love the nitty gritty. So other than art, I do have other interests. Like I am really big into fashion. I'm big into thrifting. Not today when my hair is straight, but I post a lot of content about curly hair. I like the lifestyle aspect of it. I have a personal Instagram where I do fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content. And then my art Instagram, I just really want it to be where galleries, clients, people can go to it and be like, this is what she does. This is her art. She's a serious artist.

11:34I went in somewhere where I looked really serious. And that connects with my website. My website is like that as well. On TikTok, I post about my outfits, my hair, my lifestyle, random things. Like I just posted a video about Twilight. I'm doing a daily art practice that I just started like January 1st. Because I want to start introducing my art more. I kind of started it as a fun account. And now I'm trying to establish myself as an artist on that platform. Yeah, I like that. TikTok is like kind of the behind the scenes of, you know, you being an established artist,

12:07but also like the you behind the behind the art. And then you also have a newsletter. Are you doing much over there? What does that look like? So I started my newsletter because I knew it was important. I haven't been keeping up with it, but I have a plan to make more of a schedule. I'm thinking I can probably do once a quarter a newsletter. I find it intimidating to make a newsletter because there's so much I want to say that I can't even start. When I do put out a newsletter, it's for updates on what I'm working on, big accomplishments, and ways you can support me.

12:38Maybe I'll show a couple pieces. I want to use it to launch collections, but I haven't gotten to that point yet. So right now I was growing it with people that I knew, people I did commissions with. So it's a lot of like friends and family. I'm trying to drive my other social media to get more people onto that newsletter and start using it more to attract serious clients and let them have early access to my art. Do you think the tone of that newsletter is more similar to your serious Instagram account?

13:11Like a little more professional? Or do you think you'll showcase more of kind of your, not that it's not professional, but also like more of your personality and interest too? Is it going to meet in the middle or lean more one direction? I'd say it's a little more personality driven because of my writing. I have fun with it, put my colors and stuff. I put photos of my dog and my cat in it sometimes. I want to show my personality to the people. If they're getting on my newsletter, then they probably like me. So they just want to know what I'm doing. So that's kind of how I'm. Surgery isn't the only path to a youthful profile.

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Challenges and Successes in Art Practice

14:11I want to shift gears a little bit and talk about just some challenges you faced. I mean, I know you've recently moved, which that in and of itself is a challenge, but what have been some of the biggest challenges you faced while running your art practice?

14:25So one of the biggest challenges when I first started out was having the time to focus on my art. But in college and out of college, it was like the money making was the most important thing to sustain myself and not have to live with my parents. So I kept having this back and forth about working, doing art. And I knew that my art is what I wanted to do, but I would get so focused on the jobs that would become the most important. And now that I have the time, I guess it's just having to find the money again.

14:56It feels like an either or right now, but I know it can be both. So as well as having the time, there's so many things that I can do. Even on my art admin day, it just feels like endless possibilities of what you can do with your art business. So just then being like, is this thing that I'm working on in line with my goals? Like I have to keep refocusing. And then also with the move, finding the community again, because word of mouth and personal connection is so important. And I don't have that built in right now. I'm having to go put myself out there more.

15:27So utilizing like free classes at the community college to go like network. I think there's a lot that comes with all of that. It's a challenge just being an artist in and of itself, as I'm sure you're finding more and more. Sometimes time is your enemy. Sometimes time is because you don't have enough of it. Sometimes it's your enemy because you have too much and you're like, where do I even, how do I spend it? I think a lot of artists can relate to those. On the flip side, what have been some of your most successful moments? I know you have some exciting things coming up too. What have been some big and little wins up to this point?

15:58Since I decided this is my focus in 2025, I've had so much little success that has built into bigger success. That's just dedicating the time. I had two of the biggest commissions ever this past year. That was a big one. I love that. I got my dream gallery representation in Memphis at a ugly art gallery, which I feel like is perfectly in line with the art that I do. It being quirky and different. I worked at a store in Memphis before I moved to where I created a curator role for myself.

16:33I curated so many shows and I'm really proud of that. I wouldn't have said I was a curator before, but taking any opportunity that came to me and making my own opportunities, even when I was at a job, was fundamental for me and my confidence. So I have this curator repertoire that I never expected to have. Yeah. I also collaborated with a small clothing brand, which I'm very excited about because fashion is one of my passions. We had a little launch. I focused more on my website and got a store up and going.

17:08And so my first sale on that, just incredibly like fulfilling to me.

17:14And then I would just say over this last year, I had more commission shows and sales of my art I've ever had before. So. Amazing. I love, I love all of those. What do you see next for your business? You've already had some great accomplishments, but what's on the horizon? My goals now are to grow my social media, get more of a following and let people know what it is that I'm doing and get some like recognition that way, as well as really doubling down on all the systems in place on this last year and making them very successful before I start moving on to other things.

17:46Like I'll work on growing my newsletter, working on things that I'm really focusing on, preparing for my art show that's coming up. I would like to get one more brand collab. That is something I'm working on. Yeah. Love it. Well, I love to end every episode with something practical. So a tip, a lesson, something that's been really beneficial for you that you can pass on to other artists. What is something that's helped you to grow or sustain your business and your practice? My advice would be to take advantage of all the free resources that are out there for artists and utilize your local community.

18:25That is where I had made the most growth. Some community colleges offer free classes in business. Mine specifically had art business classes. Go to art shows, put yourself out there, email people, really build those connections in person. I think that's what's going to really help you the most to grow. Yeah, I love it. Well, finally, can you tell the audience where they can learn more about you, follow you, find your work, all of that good stuff?

18:55On Instagram, my name is Becky for Art. And then on TikTok and my website, I'm kbhartthings. Amazing. I will link all of it. Thank you so much for your time today. This has been wonderful. It's so interesting learning more about what you do. And hopefully everybody tunes in, follows you, checks out everything you're doing. Thank you so much for tuning into this episode. I will be back next week. If the world were like a Sleep Number mattress, everything would adapt for your comfort. Because as your life changes and your body changes, Sleep Number mattresses adapt and shift to give you personalized comfort night after night.

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