As a child with a vivid imagination, Adrianna Kimble-Ray began creating art at a young age.
They would illustrate entire worlds of original characters from creatures they saw in daydreams, wanting a way to express what they saw to the outside world.
To Kimble-Ray, it was the ultimate form of expression.
“I could express myself through the world and the characters that I had created,” they said.
Kimble-Ray decided to get serious about their artwork and pursue a career in art as a senior in high school.
“Some big decisions about my future had to be made,” Kimble-Ray said. “I knew I wanted to go to college but wasn’t sure what I wanted to study, so I thought ‘why not art?’”
Kimble-Ray’s art contains geometric shapes, bold color palettes and futuristic gradient orbs. They describe their work as “geometric abstraction” — colorful and vibrant.
“Non-representation is an important part of my work, meaning my work looks like nothing in real life,” Kimble-Ray said.
Kimble-Ray takes inspiration from all things whimsical and bright, including Wes Anderson movies, music videos and video games. Recently, space and the universe inspire them.
“NASA has been a big inspiration for my work,” Kimble-Ray said. “All the new telescope photos they post really inspire me to create my own illustrations of planets.”
Kimble-Ray is most inspired by abstract and generative artists, such as Wassily Kandinsky and Carsten Gueth.
To achieve their distinctive style, Kimble-Ray uses computer software like Adobe Illustrator to create geometric and color compositions.
“I like to see the different color combinations I can come up with,” Kimble-Ray said. “I love to see the gradients that get created.”
Art shows across the state feature Kimble-Ray’s work. Most recently, their art was accepted into “Small Works on Paper,” an exhibition that will travel around the state for a year. They now work for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, making new pieces of art and looking for new places to exhibit their work.
Despite their love for their art, Kimble-Ray sometimes finds the creative process difficult. Like most artists, Kimble-Ray often struggles with artist’s block, exhaustion and burnout. They encourage other artists to take time for themselves and rest when they are experiencing similar problems.
“With the way society and content creation looks today, there’s the urge to always want to be constantly making stuff, but that gets exhausting quickly,” Kimble-Ray said. “Everyone needs time to rest and see themselves outside of their work. How are you supposed to create good artwork if you’re not taking care of yourself?”
Kimble-Ray sells their artwork at monthly pop-ups and markets, including the Conway Art Walk and the East Village Art Market in Little Rock. If you are interested in buying a piece of art or want to request a commission, you can contact Kimble-Ray through their email, [email protected] or on Instagram, @Astrosadri.