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Charles Kegley was born in Houston,
Texas in 1952. He studied zoology at the University of
Texas in the early 70’s before embarking on a career
in the offshore diving industry. He began working with
wood in the late 70’s when he opened a commercial
woodshop in partnership with his brother. It was during
this time that he started exercising his artistic creativity
and began to teach himself fine woodworking skills.
Tami Corley Kegley was born in Waco,
Texas in 1961. She pursued a career in the performing
arts, particularly classical ballet and modern dance,
until 1989. She met Charles in 1982 and, while still
pursuing her dance career, returned to school, earning
a BFA in jewelry and metalsmithing from the University
of Houston under the tutelage of Val Link. She was honored
with the Flaxman Art Scholarship for meritorious achievement
in her area of study.
The Kegleys began working together
to promote Charles’ wood designs in 1983. Their
formal collaboration as visual artists began in 1990.
The unique challenges of combining wood and metals resulted
in cutting edge mixed media vessels that have evolved
into figurative sculptural works often combined with
wearable jeweled elements. Their figurative sculptural
pieces are dynamic, often engaging the viewer in a passionate
discourse of mind and soul. Their fine jewelry designs
are equally compelling, every piece an exquisite statement
of unique beauty and elegant sophistication.
The Kegley repertoire is for the discerning
eye and is represented in some of the most important
contemporary craft collections in the world, including
the Bresler, Kaiser, Klemm, Lipton, Lewis, Mason, Tropp
and Wornick collections. Recently, a major piece from
the Bresler Collection was selected for inclusion in
the permanent collections of the Renwick Gallery of
the Smithsonian Institution. Kegley pieces are also
represented in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art,
as well as the Wood Turning Center of Philadelphia.
The Kegleys are active in the arts
and crafts communities at large. As members of the American
Craft Council, they have served as craftsperson’s
liaisons and Tami has served as a member of the board
of the American Craft Association. Charles has had the
honor of serving on the Board of Directors of the Craft
Emergency Relief Fund, an organization dedicated to
helping craft artists recover from career threatening
disasters or illness. In their hometown of Boerne, Texas,
they are pleased to be active members and officers of
the Boerne Area Artists Association. Tami also serves
on the Board of Directors of the Cibolo Arts Council.
They are called upon regularly to assist the art community
as jurors and curators in their areas of specialty.
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