At the center of the gallery wall, all eyes are drawn to the striking portrait of Winston Churchill.
The famed statesman’s steely visage peers out from a black background, determination and defiance in his eyes. Scripted next to his face are the words “We shall NEVER surrender,” stemming from one of his speeches as Britain was fighting for its life in World War II.
For artist Kiersten Churchill, the portrait is deeply meaningful. Winston Churchill is her great-great uncle, and his perseverance and doggedness has been an inspiration as she has pursued her own career in the arts.
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“He was a very powerful dude. He had a lot to say, and he knew what he was doing,” she said.
Churchill’s portrait of her great-great uncle is part of her first solo exhibition, now hanging at the Southside Art League’s Off Broadway Gallery. The showcase features paintings of all kinds, from colorful abstract creations to idyllic seascapes. Mountain sunsets and brilliant northern lights jump off the canvas.
The chance to present her work to the public has been exhilarating for the Indianapolis-based artist.
“It’s been mind-blowing. I’ve been working for somebody else all my life, and just this year, I said that I was done with that. Every time I try to do something aside from art, God grabs my hand and says, ‘Nope, I gave you this talent for a reason,’” she said.
Art is less of an interest for Churchill and more of an instinct, something that’s rooted deeply inside her and inseparable from who she is. Her grandmother was an artist, and her mother went to school to study art.
She has always felt that creativity is a natural talent that she had. Her first real career goal was to be an animator for Disney.
“Watching the cartoons, I was fascinated with it. I wanted to be a part of something like that,” she said.
Churchill had decided as a child growing up in South Bend that she wanted to be a professional artist, and upon attending Purdue University, she spent three years studying graphic design. Though she earned a bachelor’s degree in applied exercise and health, she never moved away from her interest in art.
In 2019, she formed her own business, KC Custom Art. She works on monograms, portraits, landscapes, memorial paintings and other creations from her home studio.
She has been commissioned to paint a number of portraits, and customers have approached her from across the country.
Churchill’s art is varied and hard to pin down. One day, she may paint a fiery sunset sinking over the mountains or into an azure sea. Other times, she may be inspired to make a gauzy inspirational piece expounding a positive message.
If she had to point to a key focus in her work, it’s the ocean, with its myriad of colors and themes.
“The whole first floor of my house is decorated in beach themes. I’m always wearing turquoise and coral colors. That’s one thing that people have noticed about my art: it’s all over the place, but it always seems to come back to that,” she said.
The motivation to create comes from her everyday experiences — a movie she’s watching, a scene she passes on the road, or a conversation with a friend.
One time, walking through her house, she was listening to music. “Dream On” by Aerosmith came on, and Churchill was struck with inspiration.
The result was a vivid painting of lead singer Steven Tyler’s hand grasping a microphone, decked out with flowing, colorful scarves. Stars twinkle and burst in the background, with the words “dream on” in cursive serving as a banner across the top.
“All of the sudden I thought, I had to paint this,” she said. “It turned out to be one of my favorites.”
With a solid collection of work in her own studio, Churchill decided at the end of last year to start exploring potential showcases and galleries to display the paintings.
One of the places she reached out to was the Southside Art League.
“I decided that I was just going to call around, and see if anyone wanted to show my work,” she said. “(Exhibit organizer) Bev Mathis took a serious interest and got right back to me. She was very persistent.”
The exhibition will include much of the work that Churchill has completed over the past few years. She wants people who come to see her to realize the breadth of her talent.
“I want them to see I can do something serious, I can do something silly, I can do abstract. I can do all of it,” she said.
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Kiersten Churchill exhibition
What: A solo exhibition for the Indianapolis artist, the first of her career, featuring portraits, landscapes, abstract paintings and other work.
When: Through Jan. 29
Where: Southside Art League Off Broadway Gallery, 299 E. Broadway St., Greenwood
Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Reception: Churchill will be available to meet art lovers and discuss her work during a reception from 6-8 p.m. Friday. Light refreshments will be served.
Information: southsideartleague.org, kccustomart on Instagram.
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