From a world populated by mythical creatures, colorful birds and creeping flowers, Kathleen Lolley and Natasha Sud deliver snapshots of singular vision, so enticing we want to find the path to their magical scenes. The two friends, whose work inspires the other, exhibit their creative visions at the Makery this month.

Many may be familiar with Lolley — her T-shirts and buttons are sold at Kopilot and she’s had shows all around town. You may know Sud’s art if you’ve picked up the Watson Twins’ new album Fire Songs. Both artists are Louisville mainstays, intertwined in the art and music scene, reciprocating influence by the close-knit creative community. Their show at the Makery, a shop for handcrafted wares, is symbolic of the care and attention these artists give to their art and community.

Over the course of their developing friendship, Lolley asked Sud to do a show with her, and Sud, who goes by “Lady of Assemblage,” quickly said yes. “We haven’t worked together before, but we realized that we both liked each other’s stuff and that our work was similar in different ways — the way it looks, the place it comes from,” Sud says.

The artists drew inspiration from the other’s style and message. “When I first saw Natasha’s work, I was instantly drawn to it,” Lolley says. “There is a nostalgic and folkloric beauty to her collages. Her subject matter is very warm and familiar to me, with an undertone of longing. I like how I feel when I look at it.”

Sud has similar sentiments. “Her work talks to me on many levels and reaches out to me,” she says. “They are all so beautiful and make me feel so many things when I look at them.”

Sud’s collages are primarily on wood, combined with paint and historical images. In each piece she attempts to capture moments in relationships, things she wants to see in the world. A trained photographer, Sud says using photographs is natural.

“I love using old wood and pictures and old magazines,” she says. “It’s exciting to see where I end up once it is all put together.”

Lolley is known for her use of animals and caricatures that display elaborate scenes and stories that dance in her head.

“It is the way I’ve always done it. I never questioned it,” says Lolley of the gentle creatures she depicts in her paintings and drawings. “Animals represent the connection of the spirit world to the everyday world.”

‘Lolley and The Lady’
Friday, March 6
The Makery
1572 Bardstown Road
ilovethemakery.com
kathleenlolley.com
ladyofassemblage.com
Free; 7-10 p.m. (opening reception)