About KELLY

Since 2001, Kelly’s focus as a sculptor has been evolving.

Kelly Guidry developed a personal style that he refers to as “modern primitive.” His work has raw honesty and a balance of masculine and feminine elements. Using modern tools, he can aggressively manipulate wood and metal into more delicate shapes and subject matter, which appears heavy-handed yet deliberate and controlled. His sculptures have an openness to which people attach personal meaning, creating work that connects with people in their most positive thoughts and emotions, balanced with smooth, sensual curves and meticulous surface details.

Kelly Guidry uses mixed media to amplify the art beholden to everyday objects. Although it is a sculpture, the use of paint on wood draws the viewer in to look at each curvature as if it were part of a painted canvas. The hardness and softness elements harken back to the Industrial Revolution. With copper, steel, and wood as primary mediums, quantifying the ways to combine these materials would take years to discover a form that would not be pleasing to the eye and touch. Kelly is a preservation genius -no material left behind nor unrefined.

When considering requests for custom work, first, I try to get a good understanding of what the customer is looking for and make sure they have a good sense of my style.

Next, I make a few suggestions for approaching the project citing images of past projects as examples. Then we start to determine the size, color, and detail, making lists and setting perimeters of things they like.

Sometimes I ask the customer to show me pictures or symbols of personal significance to incorporate into the project, and other times we can look at reference images together. Once I have enough information, I can give a price quote of what the project will likely cost based on size, level of detail, and difficulty.

On larger projects, I often send updates on the progress at different stages to ensure that we are still on the same page. Sometimes, I require a down payment, but I often collect payment upon project completion.

Depending on how many projects and obligations I have on my work list, turnaround on commission projects can range from a few weeks to several months. During the process, I get in touch periodically to assure the client that they are still on the list and try to get to each project as soon as possible. 

If you would like to inquire about a custom piece, please email me at kellyrguidry@gmail.com or call to set up an appointment at 337-277-4473. Thank you. —Kelly Guidry