A Kamloops painter displaying her work at a downtown art gallery will be giving a talk and tour later this month.
Speaking with Castanet Kamloops, artist Kelly Perry said she began painting in 2005 after graduating from Thompson Rivers University.
“I didn't do very much until I got quite a few years after that, because I was in a really bad state,” Perry said “Art is my voice, art saved my life, and it's the most important thing for me.”
Each of her pieces is based on a different country, and incorporates painted flowers of that nation as well as black and white photos to represent its people.
“Whatever's going on in the world really affects me,” she said. “If I do my flowers, maybe it'll give a few people some joy.”
Exhibit curator Deb Fong said Perry has been painting in Kamloops for years. When Perry’s painting slowed down, Fong said she reached out with an offer.
“I talked to her, and I was kind of like, ‘Well, if I asked you to do a whole show, will that get you moving?’” Fong said.
“And she created all of this work in the past eight months. So that's phenomenal — so proud of her.”
The talk and tour of Perry’s exhibit, titled If Plants Were Like People, will be held Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. at Gallery 635 on Victoria Street.
The exhibit will remain at Gallery 635 until December.