Artist Interview | Chanell Angeli
Chanell Angeli is a mixed media artist of Caribbean descent residing in Atlanta. Through the use of natural materials such as metal and wood, she focuses on creating three dimensional pieces that channel the universe and touch the soul. Her heritage comes through strongly in her work, as she works with tropical floral and images of people who remind her of childhood.
There is an emotional soul tie between my poetry and art. Just as the words build on each other telling a story so does my mixed media. At first, it‘s all a puzzle in my mind and to convey the feeling and emotion is the goal. Whether I am pulling from the labyrinth of words in my mental cloud or the jungle of floral and images in my studio; selection is key. This is where and when I believe spirit and I co-create. Unlike many artists, I do not plan or sketch out my ideas beforehand. They are all spontaneous flurries of epiphanies pulled from the unseen spiritual world where thoughts and inspiration live and are made manifest in the physical. The art just seems to just fall out of me through pen and pad or canvas and paint.
My poetry and my art are my children. Siblings birthed of the same mother. I use wood canvas and fresh or dried floral. I pull greenery that reminds me of the tropics and my Caribbean decent. I use images that reflect the men and women kept alive in my heart and soul. Through mixed media, I am trying to tell the story that they are still with us. My grandmothers and yours. My ancestors and yours. They are very much alive… in the afterlife.
Independent & Image Art Space: What are the critical milestones in your art career?
Chanell Angeli: A critical milestone in my art career was having the renowned artist Charly Palmer purchase one of my works. I admire him as an artist so much, it really blew me away.
Independent & Image Art Space: In front of the current pandemic, how do you think art can do for our world, community or family?
Chanell Angeli: In the current pandemic I believe art if any medium is a story teller and a time capsule of this human experience. We are documenting our perspectives through expression and someone, somewhere in the future will get it…
Independent & Image Art Space: In the new year of 2021, do you have any plan for your art creation?
Chanell Angeli: In 2021 I plan on working on a series that delves into religion. That’s all I’ll say about that but I’m very excited.
