Kimley Maretzo

Kimley is an emerging American artist currently based in West Hollywood, California. A lifetime of moving back and forth between the East and West coasts has opened her up to approaching the world and her art through a spectrum of viewpoints.

As an abstract artist, she is always looking to investigate the liminal space between opposing forces and seeks to explore the tension between the ineffable desire for perfection and the beauty of the imperfection created by the human hand. Working predominantly with watercolors and inks, this tension is magnified by the unpredictability of watercolor as she tries to have it flow into precise geometric shapes which she then often overlays with irregularly hand-drawn lines and marks.

After many years working as a graphic designer, she became fascinated by the strong, visceral reactions people have to color and how it is typically the first thing people comment on – usually with very demonstrative opinions. Playing with color combinations is probably the most challenging and the most enjoyable part of her process. She frequently combines neutrals with pops of bright color and loves exploring the striking gradients she can achieve with unusual mixes of colors.

Music is a constant muse and Kiml...

I've taken art classes at UCLA and Otis Parsons but am largely self-taught.

2024 - "Warm and Cool," Crescent Tree Gallery, Claremont, California