If 10-year-old Elijah Kell could have glimpsed his future, he would be in awe of the 20-year-old Elijah Kell.
Now celebrating his 20th birthday, he is both a business owner and a glass artist extraordinaire!
“I was only 11 years old when I participated in my first professional juried art event, and then, I was even more hooked,” Elijah shares. “It’s been a wild ride with trial and error on both the creative and business sides. I’ve been full time as an artist and entrepreneur for about two years, so I’m in the early stages of building a sustainable career. All that said, I’m grateful, hopeful, excited and determined to do whatever it takes to get there.”
In March of 2023, Elijah proudly launched Kell Glass LLC, designing, crafting, firing and finishing all his sculptures in his studio in Mint Hill, NC, just outside Charlotte. Each piece is its own work of art – with no two exactly alike. Whether through intricate layering or unexpected color combinations, Elijah ensures every creation has its own unique story.
“I love doing what I do and feel grateful I’m able to do it. Being in my workshop with the music turned up – designing, experimenting and creating – is my favorite place to be. I spend hours and hours there, and most days it feels more like minutes,” he shares. “Although I’ve been creating with glass for 10 years, eight of those years were during my school years, so I split time between a lot of different directions. It was basically a passion I became obsessed with so I was learning to make my creative ideas a reality.”
Elijah began doing art shows and festivals in order to sell his work and make money for more supplies and, through those events, discovered how much he loved talking to people about his art and how rewarding it felt when others were genuinely interested. What are some of Elijah’s earliest favorite pieces?
“If I had to choose a favorite, one would be an early piece in my Coral Reef series when I was only 11 years old. Until then, my glass work was created mosaic-style with cut shards designed on top of a blank glass sheet. The idea of not using a foundational piece of glass to hold everything together was something I wanted to challenge myself to do, so I spent time figuring out how to layer cut strips of glass and freeform the pieces to a viable shape that would hold up through the firing process. That specific coral-inspired piece was a huge personal triumph. I loved it so much, I took it to art shows but refused to sell it. I still have it in my studio today!”
Another favorite is one of his first big commissions – at the age of 15 – and he loves collaborating with clients.
“The client asked for a vase that captured the essence of stained glass and design elements in architect Antoni Gaudi’s buildings – which were some of their favorite travel destinations in Spain. I had just met them, so I had mixed feelings of being overwhelmed and honored they felt so confident in me as an artist. At the same time, I was thinking, how the heck am I actually going to create all of that in a glass vase? I spent a couple of months reading and researching Gaudi’s work and developing my color palette and overall design. I spent another month constructing and laying out the design with the firing cycles and finishing process after that. I titled the piece Radiance, and it’s still one of my all time favorites.”
Growing up in a family dedicated to service and uplifting others, Elijah knows that’s a big part of who he is.
“I wanted to establish a primary charity partner and, after learning about Arts for Life, I was drawn to their mission of providing art programs to pediatric hospital patients. I felt a connection because my own artistic journey stemmed from difficult times when I was young, and art was definitely my escape. I’m thankful to be part of an organization that uses art for happiness and healing.”
Each year, Elijah dedicates a sculpture to Arts for Life and donates 100% of its proceeds to the organization. This year’s donation is Fire Opal from his Crystalline series, also available at Juelerye Artisan Gallery. He volunteers at Levine Children’s Hospital and works with several other nonprofits including Bright Blessings, an organization founded by his family that supports homeless and impoverished children across four counties. Elijah is equally invested in two local child advocacy centers, the Coalition Against Child Abuse in Lincoln County, as well as the Dove House in Mooresville, creating sculptures for all three organizations’ annual events.
Best news for all: Elijah has grown to love the Lake Norman-Mooresville area and plans to move here next fall.
“Between my involvement with Mooresville Arts, my representation with Juelerye Artisan Gallery and having many collectors in the area, I’ve developed amazing relationships. I’m excited to mix in a little lake life with my work life!”
Visit elijahkellartglass.com and follow Elijah’s journey on Instagram @elijahkellartglass. In Mooresville, you can find Kell Glass at Juelerye Artisan Gallery, located at 112 S. Main Street, 704.728.0460, and at juelerye.com.
Make plans to attend Elijah Kell: Celebrating 10 Years in Glass Friday, March 28th from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. (drop-in) and Saturday, March 29th from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. (drop-in) at Juelerye Artisan Gallery. Elijah will be on hand to answer questions, reflect on early works and showcase his newest collection. Complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
