Hello and welcome to Things with Ness!
I’m Ness (they/them), a queer artist living and working in New Orleans. My work explores a wide range of multidisciplinary mediums both individual and collaborative. This platform acts as a living portfolio organism of visual art, community projects, ideas, teaching resources (coming soon), and ongoing classes and workshops.
Over the years, I’ve found that as a maker, my practice isn’t tied to a single medium—it’s deeply woven into community and collaborative relationships with people of all ages. This space gathers together those projects, values, and expressions.
Artist statement:
Ness Kent (they/them) is a queer, non-binary artist who grew up outside of Seattle, Washington—playing in the woods, digging holes, and picking berries. They received a BFA in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2018 and have lived and worked creatively in New Orleans since 2020.
Ness is a 28-year-old interdisciplinary artist whose practice is deeply rooted in intergenerational community building and visual expression. In 2021, they founded Mess Arts, a queer-led 501(c)(3) youth arts program focused on youth leadership, self-expression, and community. Their current practice balances visual arts, community building, and teaching.
For Ness, being creative is rooted in a practice of visually sharing the joy and magic of the world and the present moment—most often found through collaboration.
On current visual art practice:
My current art practice explores the visualization of emotions and dialogue between childhood and adulthood. My work centers joy, non verbal positivity, and the tension between the presence and impermanence of childlike wonder.
Get to know Ness
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Get to know Ness *
Artist Core Values
Collaboration:
For me, making and collaboration are intrinsically linked at the core of my practice. It’s about letting go of what we think we know and creating space for the freshness of wild, unexpected ideas—ones we could never dream up alone. Working together, especially intergenerationally, stretches our ideas like bubble gum into new shapes and places. Collaboration is how we connect, learn, and grow together.
Curiosity:
Curiosity is about asking questions constantly! Dare to try, dare to fail, learn in the process! Try to make something you’ve never seen!
Experimentation and Play:
Experimentation and play act as the implementation of our dreamiest creative thoughts. Its about understanding how to embrace uncertain outcomes along the way. These allows us to be boundless in what can exist.
Community
Community work is an act of weaving art into daily life in accessible ways and remembering that we can learn from each other and our differences in impactful ways. Community work is important because there is strength in numbers. It is how we move towards larger social change while supporting each other in the process. For me, community is where we share joy, and all those warm fuzzies of base human connection.
