As Clutter Gallery prepares to host Jellykoe for their solo show, “Mixed Berry”, we took this opportunity to ask them a few questions to get to know what makes him so spooktacular!
Who is Jellykoe?
We are Kelly and Spencer Shull, a husband and wife duo from Columbia, SC. We have been making art and designer toys since 2009.
We are self-taught artists. We both enjoyed collecting toys and making art as a hobby. We started our business in 2009 to earn extra money for our honeymoon. We never initially intended it to be our full-time job. Once we started, we loved making art and toys and getting to travel so much.
Who/What are your biggest influences?
We love horror movies, cartoons, vintage ad illustrations, anime, and kawaii culture. All of these things have been an influence on our work in some way or another.
Tell us something special about the upcoming exhibition with us.
We have created several new plush designer toys exclusively for the exhibition, along with a lot of new artwork and one-of-a-kind customs.
What are a few of your favorite tools/materials?
For Kelly, sewing machine, fur, and fleece. For Spencer, paint, ink, and Copic markers.
How did you find out about designer toys?
We have both been collecting toys for decades. Our house literally looks like a toy museum.
What advice do you have for an aspiring artist?
Don’t stop making art. Have fun, and don’t be afraid to be weird. We grew up in a very traditional part of the country, which is definitely not who we are. It’s great getting to express ourselves with our creations.
For those not familiar with your work, how would you describe your style?
Two words: creepy cute. We love monsters. We love spooky. But we also love fun, bright colors.
