The Artists: Grady Kimsey

The venerable Grady Kimsey enjoys critical and popular success as a sculptor, potter, painter, and instructor, with eight decades of life experiences to draw upon for inspiration. This kind and generous man transplanted to Central Florida from Tennessee, where he was born in 1928 in Knoxville. He earned his bachelor's in Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee in 1950, and then completed his master’s in Education from Rollins College in Winter Park in 1969. Kimsey’s varied art stands apart from others because of his ability to take viewers on visual journeys that evoke narratives, no matter the media. He says, "People tell me they can tell it's my work—whether it's a painting or a piece of sculpture—and I hope that's true, because I want it to come from the heart. And I try to influence people. And I hope it isn't derivative of any sort, other than I do have an affinity for pre-Colombian work, for primitive work, because it's honest."

He remains modest about his many accomplishments, which began in his high school days and have continued throughout his career. He has received The Council of Arts and Sciences for Central Florida Award for "Outstanding Achievement in the Arts" (1982), the Richard A. Florsheim Art Grant (1992) and a State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship (1990 and1996). He continually creates and actively exhibits his works that are as lively as his blue eyes and as engaging as his gentle Eastern Tennessee accent.

Kimsey is a man of few words and prefers to talk about the work and accomplishments of his former students. His influence was extensive on budding artists in the community, having served as a professor of art for 20 years at Seminole Community College (now Seminole State College of Florida). Among his many other contributions to that institution, Kimsey founded the Fine Arts Gallery in 1980. As an instructor, he was known to gently guide his students to explore all media and styles, and they did so eagerly because he made them feel safe from the critical eye of others. When ready, his students had the confidence to stand behind their work, and many are still creating and exhibiting with the same devotion as their mentor.

Kimsey will also be featured in Art Legends exhibitions at the City of Orlando Terrace Gallery (October 15, 2015 through January 8, 2016), Crealdé School of Art (February 5 through April 2, 2016), and the Orange County Regional History Center (March 5 through May 29, 2016).