From posters to logos, murals to apparel, artist Chris Kemp is the go-to guy on Folly Beach
By Lorne Chambers | Editor
Local artist and surfer Chris Kemp is paddling into some different waters these days, both literally and professionally. Kemp, who just relocated to Southern Shores, N.C. near Kitty Hawk on the Outer Banks, is trying to pull off the dream scenario of living part of the year on his beloved Folly Beach and part of the year in the Outer Banks.
Kemp is currently working on a whole host of projects in the Old North State, from graphic design for Secret Spot Surf Shop in Nags Head to glassing surfboards for Hooked Surfboards in Kill Devil Hills. He previously lived in the Outer Banks before moving to Folly Beach, so he still has lots of contacts in the region. But Folly Beach will always be a part of Kemp and he will always be a part of Folly Beach. Kemp has quite literally made his mark on our fair isle. You’ve probably seen his work all over town, whether you realize it or not.
An insanely prolific artist, Kemp has become the go-to illustrator for everyone in town from Bert’s Market to McKevlin’s Surf Shop to Flipper Finders to Chico Feo to the Folly Beach Farmers Market to the Surf Warrior Foundation and even this newspaper. Kemp illustrated the May 2015 edition of the Folly Current, which featured two Folly factions arguing about the future of street festivals over a literal line in the sand. Like the issue itself, the illustration was polarizing, with some saying it was a light-hearted caricature and others saying it was a divisive stereotype. Either way, people noticed it and remembered it, a trademark of Kemp’s distinctive style, which he describes as “Illustrative and exaggerative … I like to switch it up, but a lot of the work relates to life on the coast, love, and perseverance,” says Kemp.
Kemp recently tried his hand at a completely new art form — surf apparel. Although he has done countless T-shirt designs, creating wearable art was new territory. “I designed some private label board shorts for McKevlin’s,” says Kemp. “No one was really doing original art with board shorts, so I wanted to try something different.” He gave McKevlin’s six options and they chose one, which has been quite popular as they now have to place another order to keep up with the demand.
In addition to working on surfboards, board shorts, and loads of illustrations, Kemp also does a lot of mural work, including the massive one at Revelry Brewing downtown. Kemp, who went to school for Marketing & Communications at Salisbury University in Maryland, says he didn’t really get into art until after college. “Not until I moved to the Outer Banks in ’07 did I really put a stronger focus on art,” he says. “I started painting surfboards for a local shaper, and painting on found materials washed up on the beach after hurricanes. I had a few local art shows at some buddy’s surf and skate shops… and things just kept evolving from there.”
After moving to Folly Beach, Kemp widened his network and became a more versatile artist. Now he works on anything from murals to clothing and everything in between. “To me personally, my art is a daily adventure; the process, the mediums, the project … It changes everyday,” he says.
For more information on artist Chris Kemp or to view some of his work, visit artofkemp.com.
