Kathy Kemp
Assemblage Art

Artist Statement

I love scavenging for “experienced” objects—those that have lived a life before finding their way into my hands. I see them not for their original function, but for the shape, color, texture, and the stories they carry. The curve of a spindle, the patina of chipped paint, the grain of weathered wood, or the gleam of an old latch—these details spark my imagination. I integrate a variety of materials to create something new from what was once forgotten.

As an assemblage artist, I transform found objects and reclaimed materials into layered compositions that bridge past and present. Worn wood, rusted metal, and faded papers speak to me as artifacts with stories to tell. The elegant curves of antique furniture contrast with the rawness of industrial remnants, creating a dialogue between energy and stillness, chaos and order. There is an unexpected whimsy in how these elements come together—a playfulness that invites curiosity. My work is about seeing beauty in the imperfect, the weathered, the overlooked. It’s about giving discarded relics a second life and a new meaning. Each piece is a reminder that there is grace in transformation and value in the forgotten. I invite viewers to reconsider their notions of worth and aesthetics, to find joy in the unexpected, and to celebrate the quiet resilience of objects that have endured.

Artist Bio

I recently moved to Vermont, embracing a new chapter in my life. While I loved my past work in geriatric healthcare, I’m now immersing myself in art, working with old objects, and uncovering new stories in the forgotten. My husband and I now call Westminster home.