PEABODY – South Branch Library at Peabody Institute Library (PIL) is hosting an exhibition of local artist Jocelyn Velush, which will run through July 7..
All displayed work is available for purchase. The program is free and open to the public, and registration is not required.
Velush calls herself an intuitive artist, photographer, and surface pattern designer for color lovers. On her website, she says that her goal is to help people see through her art as much beauty in the world as she does.
“Everyone who comes in contact with my work feels just a little bit more alive – whether that’s because of the vibrant, saturated colors, expressive movement, or because you can feel the emotion and energy embedded in my art,” said Velush.
Velush works in a variety of mediums. She says her work is constantly evolving because she is always learning and trying to make her art practice and products as sustainable and environmentally/animal friendly as possible.
“She uses a lot of different media – she does painting, she does photography, she does collage. She uses a lot of bright colors. We have a lot of her works here; I believe we have about 30 pieces of her hanging on the walls,” said Senior South Branch Librarian at PIL.
Velush said it was important for her that her work was aligned with a greater good, and that she was making a difference in the world around her. A percentage of her sales always go to charitable organizations that support the environment, animal welfare, as well as advocating for brain injury survivors, the rights of women and children, the LGBTQ+ community, and other under-represented groups.
“I aim for my work to be expressive, lush, and vibrant and through this voice, share my core values of beauty, creativity, freedom, joy, and peace,” said Velush.
Peabody Institute Library said that Velush created vibrant and expressive art to transform space, energy, and, by extension, life. According to the library, the artist was inspired by nature, color, and movement, and loved to create abstracts, florals, and oceanscapes. Her featured work would be a mix of limited-edition photo prints and original paintings.
“I seek out small moments of beauty that make me feel alive. The giddy feeling that comes from chasing a sunset or staring up at wispy clouds against a starry night sky; the glitter of raindrops on a delicate flower petal; birds chirping as a warm breeze wraps around me; colors changing with the seasons; the wonder of childhood; the complexity of getting to know myself,” said Velush.
Velush owns Jocelyn Elizabeth Studio. Her formal education is in management, HR, and French, but she loves to learn and is always enrolled in some type of art class, according to the Peabody Institute Library. For more information, please visit www.jocelynelizabeth.com or Instagram @jocccelynnn
Oksana Kotkina can be reached at [email protected].