Kelly O’Brien Atelier x Not for Resale: Building a Gallery, Studio & Community Space in DTLA

I have partnered with fashion designer TJ Wessels and acquired a massive corner building in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. This was an incredible opportunity that came through timing, trust, and people who believed in me.

This Atelier will be more than just a gallery. In the front will be the exhibition space, in the back my working studio. I'm partnering with TJ, the genius behind the fashion brand Not For Resale LA, who will establish a flagship location within, showcasing upcycled 1-of-1 custom wearable art.

Together, we’ll be launching a custom fashion collaboration that merges my artwork and style with his fashion.

This space will also double as a lounge and community hub, where we’ll host events, artist workshops, and art classes—something I’ve dreamed of offering for years. It’s the culmination of everything we’ve been working toward: our art, collaborations, and creating a home for community.

And it’s bigger than just us. This is part of an overall movement for artists to take over, revive, and spark a true renaissance in downtown Los Angeles. After so many closures and setbacks, it’s time for art and creativity to breathe life back into the city.

To fully realize the full potential of this, I'd love to get help covering the upfront costs and giving Kelly O’Brien Atelier a strong foundation to launch and thrive. This goal covers:

I’m actively working to reach this target through my art sales. At the same time, I wanted to create this platform so friends, collectors, and community members could be part of it too.

As a full-time artist, most of our energy goes into painting and creating our art. But in order to get the Atelier open, so much of our time is being pulled into planning, and preparation. Any support here directly helps us keep our focus where it belongs—on the work itself—while still moving this dream forward. We're hustling every day—but your help gives us the space to do what we do best: create.

Why GoFundMe?

We’ve chosen GoFundMe because it allows us to use contributions right away. Every donation helps cover both the immediate costs of building Kelly O’Brien Atelier such as renovations, materials, setup and basic expenses while we dedicate ourselves fully to this project. Your support means we can focus 100% on creating art, building the gallery, and sparking a DTLA renaissance.

Every single contribution helps bring Kelly O’Brien Atelier to life — a space that isn’t just for me, but for other artists and the community.

When this goal is reached, we plan to give back in tangible ways:

• Hosting exhibitions for emerging artists.

• Offering art workshops for locals and students who wouldn’t otherwise have access to creative mentorship.

• Opening the doors for monthly open studio nights, so the community can experience creating art without any barriers.

Your support also helps us keep our focus on creating the work, which is the essense, building the space, and launching this vision in a way that’s sustainable for years to come.

Join Me

We'd would love to open the doors to Kelly O’Brien Atelier by March 2025. But the reality of expenses has made it clear that we can’t do it alone. We're grateful to have a community, and we also want to invite our larger network of friends, collectors, and supporters to be a part of this.

Every contribution brings us closer to creating something beautiful in the heart of DTLA. If you’d like to collect, donate, or volunteer, please reach out.

Together, we’ll build Kelly O’Brien Atelier X Not for Resale LA flagship location and create a space that uplifts art, community, and dreams, while helping to spark a new renaissance in downtown Los Angeles.