Mia Kelly
In modern day, the typical ideology of art has transcended to a new world. As decades progress, so expands the ability for artists to dip their toes into evolving forms of art. As digital media is becoming the centre of what we do, it’s important to recognise how that translates into an artist’s world.
Mia Kelly is a vibrant creative based in Australia, always creating from a young age. With her interests rooted in collage and video, Mia crafts her art by blending worlds of past and present- digital and physical, and bends reality. As an individual with social media success but importantly the loyalty to staying true to herself and her niche style, Mia discusses her personal journey with her craft and the inspirations behind music-video-making.
Mia, for those that are unfamiliar, feel free to introduce yourself.
I’m Mia Kelly, I’m from Australia and I’m twenty-one years old. I’ve been making my sort-of craft for I’d say since I was really young. I started from video star in the early 2000s, and then just worked my way up from there and found my passion through that.
You have a distinct aesthetic that is fluent through all your social platforms, how would you describe it?
It’s like a visual playground in a way. I just like to have some fun, pop some different things in there for people to explore. I like to make it interactive for the viewers as well.
How did you discover your passion for mixed media art?
I would say through collaging. I always enjoyed collaging when I was younger, and then one day I just worked out that I could incorporate that into film. And I think also people like Jack Stauber- yeah I love his claymation, mixed media as well- he puts real life people into his work. I feel like that’s where I kinda found the mixed-media art style.
Any other inspirations? Directors perhaps?
Yes! So Wes Anderson, obviously he is amazing. Also Becky Sloan from Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared. She did like incredible work. Also Michel Gondry. He did Eternal Sunshine, Kidding as well- the TV series with Jim Carrey. Yeah that’s an incredible show, I feel like I got a lot of inspiration from that.
Nostalgia feels quite present in your style. Are there any particular art movements or past decades that you see reoccurring in your work?
Definitely retro-futurism. I feel like that’s kind of incorporated into my work through the different sort of textures, colours, objects being mixed with things they don’t normally belong with. Yeah that sort of thing! And maybe the sixties to the early 2000s are the influential decades or eras for me, just a whole mix of all that.
As an artist, do you ever experience creative blocks?
Yes, all the time. I think as a creative that’s just a normal process of making your work. I actually get creative block for the majority of my projects and I kind of work off the whim, so I’ll have a brief idea and then work through it as I go. It’s an ideas-flow-as-I’m-making-it sort of thing. And then you can draw more meaning from it as you’re travelling through it.
Where do you turn to for inspiration?
Maybe music videos. I tend to get lots of inspiration from them, just watching lots of different ones in a row and that can bring that sort of inspiration. Even movies as well I’ll- I honestly watch the same movies over and over again sometimes which is really fun. Yeah it’s a good way to get inspiration as well.
John Moods ‘Such A Thrill’. Video directed by Mia Kelly
Saint Barae ‘Blissing You’. Video directed by Mia Kelly
Stemming from music videos, you’ve directed a couple yourself. What’s that music-video-making process like?
It’s honestly my favourite thing to make. I love music just as much as I like film, so being able to blend the two is really interesting for me. I guess the process of it is, developing the concept first, and then showing the artist. Obviously you get their ideas as well and then you mould both of your visions together to make a little baby of a music video. But it’s so fun and being on set with an artist is such a different experience than say, me making content for brands. It’s nice to interact with different people and be on a really lively set. The editing is a really fun part as well.
Do you have any advice to share for other people looking to pursue their art form? Or for those wanting to turn something like an interest into something physical like you and music videos?
I guess just sticking with it. Even if in your mind it’s not quite the vision you want, if you stick with it you can shape it to be something different that is actually really lovely. Just sticking with your passion no matter what, even if some things don't succeed you learn lessons from that and take it into the next project. So yeah, sticking with your passion is my advice.
Speaking as an artist, are there any upcoming goals or something you’re working towards?
Definitely getting a more steady flow of music videos. That’s where I want to specialise and base my whole career around. They’re just so much fun, I cannot express how much joy it brings to me, and just meeting new people- it’s great.
Drawing back to music videos, what about them stands out from other creative forms?
I guess, you can be more creative with a music video. You can always be creative with short films and things like that obviously, but it’s fun to let the viewer interpret [Music Videos] in their own way. And just meeting new people like I mentioned before, it’s just really really lovely and then you collaborate in the future as well. It’s a really fun collaboration.
Do you have any upcoming projects you’d like to share?
I think at the moment I’m trying to work through getting a couple of music videos lined up this year. I’ve got a couple artists I’ve reached out to, just awaiting responses. Trying to plan all the new year stuff. Even like up and coming bands, I think I might be collaborating with one in particular-. Yeah I’m so excited. Just waiting to see when the ball gets rolling at the moment!
You can explore more of Mia’s labyrinth of art and support her further by checking her out on Instagram, TikTok and Youtube, all can be found @mi4k3lly