Introduction to Peyton Follis Studios

Hello and welcome to Peyton Follis Studios a place for my research, thoughts, and community. My name is Peyton Follis and I am the artist and designer behind this studio brand. I'm a local Kansas City based fiber artist having attended and graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute with a Bachelor's of Fine Art (BFA).

During Undergrad

Going into my college years, I didn't really know which aspect of art I wanted to persue. Frankly I was all over the place in terms of ideas and passion. Most my work was two-dimensional and lacked meaning or concept. I knew from the beginning I wanted to persue art, but I never understood choosing just one medium for your career. This was until I began working on three-dimensional pieces and focusing more on form and composition rather than concept.

I belive this was my break-through and where my mind felt most challenged. The result was my major of choice, sculpture. In the sculpture department I was able to learn about casting, woodworking, metal working, minitures, paster, clay, and even cooking. This was a unique department open to all aspects of the creative process and allowed for my development of craft.

In my last two years in undergrad, I focused my energy toward research and development of cohesive ideas and imagery for my art. I began to take inspiration from a podcast, "Ask Any Buddy" by Elizabeth Purchell. This podcast and well rounded project focused on gay-adult cinema which paved the way towards queer representation through the 20th century. I found this history to be compelling in relationship to Kansas City's relationship to the homophile movement and it's transition to the gay liberation movement.

"My Love's in Alcatraz", Peyton Follis

Post-Undergrad

After graduating with a Bachelor's in Fine Art, worry and anxiety began to settle in. I applied for staff positions at the Kansas City Art Institute to continue my sense of stability and connection to the college. After two years of employment, I now see a better relationship between being an art administrator and artist.

I'm beginning this blog as a historical documentation of my research, thoughts, and processes. This is only a beginning for my work moving forward. I will share here my advice and expierence in the arts community of Kansas City. I will also share educational content on my processes and mediums like natural dye, natural fiber, weaving, knitting, and printmaking.

To stay up to date on my blog and posts, follow me on instagram, @peytonfollis. Please let me know you've read this post by commenting below with your favorite college memory.