SHELBY FELTOON
Shelby Feltoon is an interdisciplinary artist and curator working in Newton MA. She graduated with a BFA in Fine Arts from the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University in 2018. In January of 2018 her father gave her a set of slides he made on a road trip 40 years ago. She closely examined this gift in an attempt to understand this past version of her father seen in the slides, and she has been dedicated to exploring and preserving others’ memories and experiences through her work ever since. Feltoon has exhibited at many Boston-area galleries such as Laconia Gallery, Cambridge Art Association, and Fountain Street Gallery. She has curated exhibitions at Suffolk University Gallery, 25/8 artspace, and Kingston Gallery in Boston.
Instagram: @shelfel16
PICK UP THIS PRINT AT THE GROVE
ARTIST Q&A
Born: Tabernacle, NJ
Currently lives: Newton, MA
Title of artwork: “Dad with Flowers
What’s it about? This piece is a cyanotype that utilizes a “wet” technique. I placed a photo negative and plants down on an emulsion-covered paper, then added in soapy bubbles during the exposure process. This technique takes away a lot of control over the medium, so the finished print had a lot of surprising little moments within it. This piece features a photo of my dad that I have saved in an archive of photos of family members from the past. I combined it with flowers and leaves from my garden.
Where is your favorite public art piece in the area? It’s not just one piece, but I really like all the murals and sculptures scattered around the shipyard in East Boston.
Who is your favorite Boston-area artist to follow? I love following the work of Meag Hepp and Katie Lane (two of my former classmates!)
What’s your favorite way to spend a day off? I love taking long walks and hikes, especially if they involve a coffee stop!
What was your top song for 2023? Kick in the Teeth by Hippo Campus
Favorite food spot in in Allston, Brighton or the surrounding area? I’m a huge fan of Soup Shack in Brookline!
What have you learned about your creative practice in recent years? I’ve learned that I’m really driven by community, and also deadlines. The best way I’ve found to keep my creative practice alive is by doing projects with friends. I’ve organized shows all around the city, and working with others to create an exhibition that represents us collectively pushes me to make new work and ask for feedback.
What is a piece of advice you would give to your past self as a young artist? Keep a sketchbook and draw daily. This is something I still have a hard time with, but I wish it was a practice I had started from a young age.
What is your dream project to work on? I would love to run an artist residency someday- just an awesome little plot of land with some cabins and studios and a place to share meals together. I would love to create an ecosystem for creativity and collaboration like that.
