Oli Kellett

The Life Drawing series followed Cross Roads Blues in 2020, during a period of introspection. This shift began when Kellett became intrigued by the circular marks left inside cups and bowls from regular stirring. These marks—subtle, yet persistent—became the foundation for Kellett’s ritualistic practice of drawing, which he engaged in daily. Kellett’s fascination with the circle is deeply influenced by Eastern philosophy, where the circle represents both the eternal and the divine. In Zen Buddhism, the hand-drawn circle, or ensō, symbolizes enlightenment—an experience that cannot be explained, only realized by someone who has achieved a state of mental emptiness. “I’m looking for a moment when someone is psychologically detached from the physical space they occupy—alone with their thoughts, even if only for a few seconds.”