Day 1: Carolyn Kay

Carolyn Kay

she/her

Creative Medium: Painting

About the Artist

My conceptual paintings explore the parallels between the value systems of art and money through the visual language of gambling, money, numbers, and accounting. Cyphers, symbols, and positional notation engage the conventions of art and expectations of value. My work invites the viewer to engage with its aesthetic calculations at the intersection of traditions, perceptions, emotions, and lived experience. I grew up a professional gambler's daughter in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the height of the mafia violence in the 1970s and early 80s, which influenced my art and chosen occupation. After earning an undergraduate degree in economics, my finance-related career focused on roles in art museums in California, New York, and Arizona. In 2000, I earned a Master of Fine Arts degree, during which my figurative painting transitioned to conceptual compositions that incorporated fiscal themes in various media. In 2013, I put my art practice on hold and relocated from New York City to Arizona. While completing a Master of Science in Accounting in 2024, I also recommitted to my studio art practice. I love the flow of creating a painting. For me, it is like solving a riddle. During this open studio, I welcome visitors' curiosity, reflections, and questions.

Phone: 19174566253

Email: carolyn@carolynkaystudio.art

How to Purchase

Artist accepts cash, Zelle, Venmo or PayPal. No credit cards. Deposits on works in process are accepted.

Pricing Range

$1-$150, $1001+, $151 - $500, $501 - $1000