Kelly Coats Bio
Kelly Coats is an artist, musician and designer based in Los Angeles, California. She received a BFA from Western Michigan University in 1998, and an MFA from the University of Cincinnati (UC) in 2002.
In 2002, she moved to Mexico City and co-founded (with Renato Ornelas) the Mexico City-based artist collective Bordermates, which produced events in parking lots, cantinas (bars), restaurants, etc., in Mexico, the United States and Argentina. With free music, drink and food, Bordermates created a relaxed environment where artists and visitors could observe and participate mutually.
In Mexico, Coats was a member of the satirical, electro-caberet trio, Mi Grupo Favorito. She also created futuristic visuals for corporate tequila parties and the design concept, logo and illustrations for the counter-culture zine Replicante. Epic Thriller, her solo show at Rimjaus Gallery, featured a phenakistiscope (optical toy) that – when activated – morphs Michael Jackson's face from the pop-icon's Jackson Five days to it's current state.
Since her move to Los Angeles in 2005, Coats has created motion graphics for several independent documentaries, including: the Alma-nominated and PBS-aired, Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano; and the yet to be released Harvest of Empire, based on the book by Juan Gonzalez, directed by Sergio Arau and Yareli Arizmendi. Coats worked as a graphic designer for two years at the weekly, Los Angeles Downtown News.
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Kelly Coats Resume
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2005-Present: Freelance Motion Graphics Artist/ Graphic Designer, Los Angeles
CLIENT LIST: Eye on the Ball Films, Natural 9 Entertainment, The Original Chicano Productions, Anacost Films, Bent Festival.
OVERVIEW: Eye on the Ball Films: created graphics for the feature length film, Harvest of Empire, directed by Sergio Arau and Yareli Arizmendi. Natural 9 Entertainment: created broadcast graphics for the daily syndicated program, “Reality Remix”. Original Chicano Productions: conceptualized and created motion graphics for the PBS-broadcast documentary Lalo Guerrero: The Original Chicano. Anacost Films: designed and animated lower thirds and title cards for the feature length mockumentary H2BR: How to Build a Rapper. Designed and
illustrated posters and postcards for the circuit bending music festival, Bent Festival 08.
2006-2008 Graphic Designer, Los Angeles Downtown News
OVERVIEW: Designed graphics and page layout for a weekly newspaper and several
yearly magazines. Involved in: concept development; logo design; advertisement design; image archiving, searching and digital retouching; web banner design; and preparing files for web and print.
2002-2006 Co-founder, Bordermates Collective, Mexico City
OVERVIEW: Co-founded and developed this collective to promote social co-existence between emerging artist proposals and the public, with an emphasis on food and temporality. Organized 15 events in various locations working with over 70 artists. Conducted grant writing; organized the preparation and installation of artists’ works; designed press materials, invitations and bordermates.org website; coordinated sponsorship; arranged travel itineraries and accommodations for visiting artists.
2002-2005 Freelance Graphic Designer, Mexico City
Client List: Nina Menocal Gallery, Revista Replicante (Magazine of Letters), Jose Cuervo Tequila, Gran Centenario Tequila, Olih T-shirt Brand, Papalote Children’s Museum, Centro Comercial Angelópolis (Shopping Mall), Energy Regulation Commission of Mexico, El Revolcadero Production House and Primero Sueño (Theatre and Dance Company).
OVERVIEW: Developed motion graphics for projection at Planeta Cuervo 2 (International Jose Cuervo Tequila Conference), Galaxia Centenario (Annual Gran Centenario Tequila Gala) and the VII Reunion of the Ibero-American Association of Energy Regulators. Designed logos, illustrations and stationery for Olih T-shirt Brand, El Revocadero Production House and Primero Sueño. Created the overall design concept, cover illustrations, layout, logo and print advertisements for Replicante Magazine. Produced didactic animations for an interactive
installation at Papalote Children’s Museum. Designed logos, posters, invitations and print advertisements for Nina Menocal Gallery.
2002 Graduate Assistant, University of Cincinnati
Spring 2002 (instructor of record), Fine Arts Foundations, Methods and Concepts 3
Winter 2002, Fine Arts Foundations, Current Arts Forum
2001 Graduate Assistant, University of Cincinnati
Fall 2001 (instructor of record), Fine Arts Foundations, Methods and Concepts 1
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe In-Design, QuarkXPress, Adobe After Effects, Final Cut Pro, Reason, Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Fireworks, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Powerpoint, FileMaker Pro
EDUCATION
2000-2002 M.F.A., Visual Arts, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
1994-1998 B.F.A., Painting, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
AWARDS & GRANTS
2005
International Fund for the Promotion of Culture, UNESCO (for Bordermates)
2004
Cultural Contact, Rockefeller Foundation / FONCA, US-Mexico Fund for Culture Grant (for Bordermates)
2001
Graduate Student Government Association Travel Award, University of Cincinnati
Wolfstein Travel Fellowship, University of Cincinnati
SELECTED VISUAL ART EXHIBITS/ SCREENINGS/ PERFORMANCES
2008
Under Alvarado: There is a Beach, Tiny Creatures at Mexicali Rose, Mexicali, MX
The Case of the Stairs, perfomance with LA Fog & My Barbarian, LACMA, Los Angeles
2007
ah-peh-Jee-doh, Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, Los Angeles
um...My gallery, Brewery Art Colony Gallery, Los Angeles
Trademark, Galería 13, Mexico City
Positively Nasty, LTTR V, Performance with D’Argento, Susanne Vielmetter Projects, L.A.
2006
International Flip Book Festival, Reg Vardy Gallery, Sunderland, UK
Sábados-Ilusión, Rufi’s Convenience Store and Tailor Shop, Buenos Aires
No Speed Bumps! No Seat Belts, ADM Project, Hollywood
2005
Epic Thriller, Rimjaus, Mexico City (solo)
Now Playing!, Screening, The Ritz Gallery, Newburgh, NY
Dinero, EXteresa Arte Actual, Mexico City
You & Me & ART&IDEA, ART&IDEA, Mexico City
Viaje Todo Pagado/ Kansas City Tropical, Grand Arts, Kansas City, MO
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