Vanessa Solomon: Production Manager

“I abandoned all of my other projects to focus on Kelly’s collection, which reminds me of my work with Jeff Koons. I frequently have flashbacks of the Celebration Series while dealing with the production challenges of Kelly’s pieces. We constantly push the envelope and do the impossible. It is an exciting and inspiring challenge.”

— Vanessa Solomon

Originally from South Africa, Vanessa Solomon holds a Master’s Degree in Sculpture and brings more than 25 years of experience serving American museums, corporations, institutions, and artists.

Solomon came to the United States as the first International Intern at Tallix Sculpture Foundry in Beacon, New York; at the time, one of the largest foundries in the world. There she perfected her skills in enlarging, mold-making, wax-making, metal casting, plastic casting, metal finishing, and patina, working alongside top American and international artists including Frank Stella and Frank Gaylord. She also developed new sculpture materials and produced large-scale prototypes and public works.

Solomon went on to serve as Director of Mold Production for world-renowned artist Jeff Koons, where she was integral to the realization of his landmark Celebration Series. She directed all mold production and worked closely with Koons on prototypes ranging from delicate balloons to engineered sculpture as large as 20 feet, overseeing teams of 60 people working around the clock for months at a time. The Celebration Series exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum and at the Whitney Retrospective; individual pieces from the series have sold for as much as $91.1 million, among the highest amounts ever paid for a living artist’s work.

Solomon was essential to the creation of the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and has worked with artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and Tom Otterness. Her corporate clients include Sony Pictures, Miller Beer, Twitter, and numerous others. Her personal sculptures have exhibited across the globe, notably at the United Nations and in the permanent collection of the South African Embassy in London.

Foundry

“Kelly Kiefer’s work is the most complex we have seen due to her use of multiple textures, as well as different depths and planes. It is complicated, but we can do it; it’s a great challenge. When the collection is done, it will be amazing.”

The complexity behind each piece in the collection has led some in the industry to call Kelly’s work impossible to produce. This level of detail and intricate design provides a significant barrier to entry and a genuine differentiator in the marketplace.

After an extensive search for the right partner with both the willingness and expertise required, the Kelly Kiefer team partnered with a foundry bringing over 30 years of experience. Their portfolio includes work for Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jeff Koons; the Leonardo da Vinci Horse; and figures for the Korean War Memorial.

EXTENDED TEAM

The Kelly Kiefer extended team has grown to include some of the most skilled artisans and capable suppliers in the country, assembled with great intention over many years. The challenging nature of the work means that those with the ability to execute it are not always willing to take it on; finding partners who can and will has been a pursuit in itself.

Collaborative effort is vital, ensuring each piece carries the Kelly Kiefer vision from concept to completion while exacting standards are kept firmly in place. Studio assistants work on molding, casting, and finishing. Expert 3D sculptors collaborate with Kelly, turning hand-sculpted maquettes into digital models and CAD renderings that further explore logistics such as light, mechanisms for hanging, and installation engineering. Project managers, lighting experts, electrical engineers, and a wide constellation of craftspeople and material suppliers are all integral to the work.