Shelby is an environmentally-minded visual artist who works with found objects to create colorful, compositionally-driven pieces that play with dimension, scale and movement. Based out of Santa Barbara, she discovers and collects the majority of her materials along local beaches- anything from discarded plastic scraps and fishing traps, to boat remnants and weathered driftwood. This choice of medium both prevents the creation of new materials, as well as helps to diminish trash and plastics in nature; but what Shelby loves most is the way in which each object infuses her art with its own rich, mysterious history and energy. 

          To Shelby, each item collected mirrors the little moments of our lives- every one is unique and meaningful despite how small it may feel on its own- so small that it could easily go overlooked. But we gather them as we move along through life, never knowing exactly how they might contribute, or the scale of their relevance. And then, eventually, they come together to create something bigger, more cohesive… together they tell a beautiful story, in which each of them is valuable individually, but rely on the coexistence of every other item to finally make sense as a whole. 

          Shelby received her Bachelors of Fine Art from Washington University in St. Louis, and has a background in fashion design and styling, working predominantly with female pop artists. Color and silhouette have always been a focus of her creative work, and she envisions her art in private collections as well as commercial spaces that prioritize the environment.