CHOCTAW/EUCHEE-MVSKOKE CREEK/NAVAJO 

Metalsmith/Jeweler · Printmaker · Mixed Medium Artist  

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Artist Biography: 

 

Rykelle’s current works of art is a representation of the knowledge she has attained through her personal studies of her tribes and working under her father (Renowned Native Painter/Printmaker Randy Kemp) as a printmaker from the age of 12. She has worked with many master printmakers including: Joe Segura, Jacob Meders and Brent Bond to name a few. She has also been associated with Xico. Inc. (Phx,AZ), where she has worked in many Mono-Type and Mono-Silkscreen workshops perfecting her printmaking skills over the last 10+ years. 

 

Rykelle’s works have been featured in art galleries (Frontal Lobe (AZ), Monorchid (AZ)), art markets (SWAIA (NM), IFAM (NM), Pueblo Grande (AZ)), museums and native arts magazines across the country.

 

She works out of her own home studio where she produces her own mono-silk screen prints and mix-medium artworks. In addition to printmaking she found her creative passion for jewelry making and design. She took it upon herself to learn metal-smithing and more directly silversmithing. For the past few years she has worked tirelessly at cultivating and growing her knowledge and her own techniques in silversmithing. She has created a unique style all her own that incorporates her tribal heritage.

 

Along with the other works of art she has produced, she has worked on numerous musical endeavors with spoken word. She was featured on a music track of her fathers flute music for his self titled album “Artifical Red”. The song was awarded a prestigious “Spoken Word” nomination from NAMA (Native American Music Awards) which was held in Seneca Falls, NY. The song wasn't the first runner up but that experience was enough to help them realize the importance of music and words, which her father continues to perform.

 

After that musical venture came another, which instead of contributing her voice and words she contributes her skills as a visual artist by creating their on stage regalia. The collective called Radio Healer: “is a Xicana/o and Native American led collective in Phoenix, Arizona. As a group, these hacker-artists create indigenous electronic tools, which they use with traditional indigenous tools to perform indigenous reimagined ceremony. Through their immersive environments, comprised of moving images, tools, regalia, performance, and sound, the collective bends media to position visual and sonic metaphors that make the familiar strange.” Radio Healer is the recipient of the 2016-2017 Arizona Commission for The Arts, Artist Research and Development Grant, and is a project in residence at the Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. Radio Healer has performed immersive environments throughout North America, in Australia, and in Namibia. Radio Healer is partners with the Arizona State University, Center for the Art and Science of Teaching, Arizona State University Art Museum, and CALA Alliance.

 

In recent years Rykelle has dedicated time to demonstrate her process of jewelry making, she does this throughout the community, art markets and in different museums regionally. Kemp feels it is very important to educate and open a platform to talk with people about the meaning behind the designs and images her people have used for hundreds of years. Devoting time to the youth in her community she has teaming up with her father and created a  

hands on creative experience, showing kids how important expression is and how boring life would be without art.

 

“We instruct, introduce and educate kids to step out of their comfort zones and to pick up a 

brush and “Leave your Mark” on a communal open canvas. We are there for them to ask questions about the art business and support their questions with encouragement and guidance.”-Rykelle Kemp

 

Owner 

• The Wooden Nickel 2010 

• The Neon Naja 2017

• Pop-UP Shop

• Event organizer/promoter of Native Arts and Craft events in AZ

SHOWS/MARKETS

• Demonstrator Heard Museum 2016-Ongoing 

• Prescott Indian Art Market. Prescott, AZ. Exhibitor & Demonstrator 2017

• IFAM: Indian Fine Art Market. Santa Fe, NM. 2015

• Deer Valley Rock Art Center. Peoria, AZ 2014, 2015, 2016

• SWAIA: Santa Fe Indian Art Market Exhibitor. Santa Fe, NM. 2009-2016 

• The Heard Museum Exhibitor. Phoenix, AZ. 2009,2010

• Litchfield Park Native American Art Show. Litchfield,AZ. Exhibitor & Demonstrator. 2008-2016

• Pueblo Grande Museum's Native American Art Market Exhibitor & Demonstrator. Phoenix, AZ. 2009,2013,2014 

• Eiteljorg American Indian Art Market. Indianapolis, Indiana. 2003 

EDUCATION

• Arizona State University 2017 

• Phoenix Center For The Arts Phoenix, AZ. Jewelry Design 2015

• Tortuga Studio with master print-maker Damian Charette

• Printmaking Class with master print-maker Joe Segura at Segura Publishing (Tempe, AZ) 2004

• The Art Institutes Minnesota (Fashion Retail Merchandising) 2012 

• Arizona State University

• Scottsdale Community College (Study Abroad Program/New Zealand and Australia)

 

Exhibits/Gallery 

    January 2nd 2015

    Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center. Phoenix, AZ.

    AZ/NM Connection

     This show hosted many amazing local artist from Arizona and From New Mexicos, with all 

     types of back grounds and mediums.

 

   Feburary 27th-March 2nd, 2014

    The Frontal Lobe Gallery. Phoenix, AZ.

    Inherit The Earth: Art, Activisim and Land.   

    A collaberative art show featuring Indigenous artists/ activists as they explore their

    environment, land-based knowledge, and issues surrounding the land.

     Beside myself, artist included: Julius Badoni- Randy Kemp- Jacob Meders- Steven J. Yazzie-       And more.​

 

The MonOrchid. Phoenix, AZ Show for FIrst Friday downtown art events. In the main gallery/art space shared show with Randy Kemp. 2004 

 

 

SKILLS/PERFORMANCE & PROFESSIONAL CREDIT

     Currently I am presenting seminars with Randy Kemp entitled "leaving your Mark" Geared toward youth to provide guidence and understanding of the artistic path. These hands on events include time for students to express themselves through acrylic on canvas, pencil and paper, and hopefully other mediums to come. The students are encouraged to "leave their own mark" using these different types of medium, while talking about how the images they make pertain to their life and what it means to them. This experiance gives us an opportunity to help mentor these children and young adults, It helps them to think and talk about their future in a more hands on artistic approach. We always end our seminar with a Q and A, which always results in a more specific conversation and insight into the art world. (Please feel free to contact Randy Kemp for more info about these presentations at: Randy.kemp@asu.edu)

 

"Leaving your Mark" at Phoenix Indian Center's Youth Leadership Day 2014:

 

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• Donated monotype prints created at tourtuga studios (with master print-maker: Damian Charette) for The Phoenix Indian Center's annual Charity and fundraising event called "the Silver and Turquoise ball".  

• Reelnative short film/PBS American Experience “Metropolitan Rezervation·, 2009. Aired Across the country on PBS stations. Assisted in filming, editing and was in the film.

• Native American Music Award (NAMA) Nominee: CD recording, Artificial Red, 2008· Flute and Poetry. Traveled to Buffalo, NY to attend the award ceremony.

• Assisted in a class/seminar taught by Randy Kemp, on Monotype printing and techniques. The Art Institute Int'l Phoenix location.

• Print maker for Xicanindio's "Hot off the press" series. Which invited collectors for first dibs on monotype prints directly from the press. 2004 and 2005

• Green Cheese Production, Affiliate Production “Reading Rainbow”· Teaching Aid Video Of monosilk screening techniques. Aired on PBS stations across the country.  2003

• Winner in the Annual Heard Museum Student Art Competition (2002):

       The First Placed monotype print titled "Friendship" Is apart of the Heard Museum

       permanant collection and can be seen hanging in the museum.

          First Place: Print Making Category 

          First Place: Print Making Division

          Honorable Mention: Print Making Division