Artist Kris Keys brings memories from her grandma’s backyard in Memphis, TN to The Catskills

The watercolor artist pulls inspiration from the wisdom learned while rolling her grandma’s hair and poured it onto canvas.

Kris Keys is an artist who’s work has proven to be an autobiographical journey of family, health, and self discovery. Her vibrant style of watercolor painting transcends generations telling a story within each stroke of paint. With published works in health journals such as The Lancent Haematology and reoccurring meditative painting experiences at The Los Angeles Arboretum; Kris is a rare artist intertwining the medicinal world with art.

In this new collection COME ROLL MY HAIR, Kris has pulled inspiration from conversations between she and her maternal grandmother while rolling her hair. The global artist with roots in Memphis, TN recalls memories of styling her grandma and great grandma’s hair in the dining room. It’s the space where she learned about her family’s history and her grandmother’s health journey.

“Every time my grandma shares a story about our family, I discover more about myself.”

Kris’ grandma shares a half trait of the genetic blood disorder, Hereditary Elliptocytosis; a rare disorder that causes blood cells to be abnormally shaped. While rolling her hair, Kris explains that she discovered patterns within her family’s health journey. Diabetes has affected both her paternal and maternal grandmothers. The observation of medicine side effects, surgeries, and shift of the quality of life due to her grandmother’s illnesses is something that the artist brings awareness to through the incorporation of medicinal flowers in her work. “I can remember my paternal grandmother having her leg amputated and my maternal grandmother having multiple blood transfusions. After having my gall bladder removed, I thought I have to do something to change the health patterns in my lineage. Yes we have irregular blood cells, but we don’t have to suffer because of it. There are little yet important pieces of information I gathered about the diet and lifestyle of my grandmother that informed my approach to improving my health through flowers.”

Keys explained that this project brought her full circle to the kitchen and backyard of her grandmother’s home. Historically black women began their hair salons in the kitchen of their homes, often warming the hot combs and curlers on the stove. As a child, this backyard has served a space of discovery for her, picking fruit and vegetables from her great grandmother’s garden.

Kris’ 2021 project Genealogy helped her to connect the dots within her family tree. Spending time in Mississippi listening to stories from her elders helped Kris connect the similarities of family and agriculture. This year, she has added another element to the story, hair. Comparing the patterns of hair with the flowers that Keys have studied and crafted into her new flower tea brand are parallels that is evident in her large scale paintings.

“The kitchen and the backyard have always been a place of healing allowing space for conversations and storytelling through cooking, talking, and doing hair. ”

“This is a full circle moment for me because my grandmother has been such a huge inspiration within my lifetime. Unfortunately, my grandmother’s diabetic medication caused her to have problems with her kidneys that is inevitably leading to her transition.” Now that her grandmother is under the care of hospice, Kris explains that this exhibition is important now more than ever.

“I’m literally outside of grandma’s bedroom in the serenity of her backyard pouring her stories onto canvas while she rests inside. Sometimes I’ll bring a finished piece for her to see or show her progress photos. I hope that she can feel the energy of me painting the very stories that she shared with me throughout my lifetime. This collection allows space for reflection and bonding. I want inspire attendees to cherish the moments spent with family, learn about the history, and learn about flowers that heal. The flower medicine knowledge paired with nostalgic hairstyles and patterns within families is a combination that only God could give to me through my life’s experiences.”

Ahead the COME ROLL MY HAIR exhibition and tea tasting opening on May 25, Kris is taking her paintings to the tranquil Amaya Guesthouse in The Catskills. Amaya means the end and beginning of something new, which is so befitting for the concept of this body of work. Nestled along the Catskill Creek with sounds of nature seeping into the home; this mimics the feeling of her grandmother’s backyard and the feeling of the black home perfectly. This show will be an unforgettable experience for everyone who attends.

To RSVP for this one day exhibition in The Catskills in Upstate New York, click the link below.