Meet Kylie Rosenbloom of Palms

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylie Rosenbloom.

Hi Kylie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
One of my earliest memories is of seeing a group of people plein air painting in the park. At that point in my life, I associated adulthood with seriousness. But seeing adults smiling and doing something that looked like fun shifted my perspective entirely. The next day, I went to preschool, walked up to the classroom easel, painted a flower, and never (or rarely) looked back.

Over the years, my natural instincts were cultivated into skills through learning in various art classes, and I eventually earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. From there, I moved to Chicago and focused on honing my style and expanding my creative circle. When my lease was up at the height of the pandemic, I packed up my belongings and my dog, Woodstock, and set out on what would become the next phase of my life.

After a series of road trips and temporary stays around the country, I eventually found my way to Los Angeles. Within a couple of weeks, I had a job in the fine arts, an apartment, and a new city to call home. Throughout the last five and a half years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and collaborating with incredible artists who continue to inspire me and influence the way I approach my own work.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to where I am today has not been easy. Despite having an incredibly supportive family, I have struggled with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and creative block, especially in art school. Painting had always been an escape, but once it became something I was graded on and measured against others, I lost confidence in myself and developed anxiety around perfectionism.

By the time my senior thesis came around, I was so anxious that I completely froze. After months of struggling to find an idea, I decided to paint a photograph from a magazine simply because it inspired me. The painting came naturally, and I went on to create two more with the same ease. I finished them just days before the final exhibition, and it was only after seeing them installed as a triptych that I realized what my thesis was truly about.

That experience taught me to focus on the process rather than the outcome. Although my imposter syndrome has not completely disappeared, I have learned to trust what inspires me and embrace the freedom that comes with knowing there are no rules in art.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create oil paintings inspired by people and scenes of everyday life. My style has evolved over the years, but the central focus of portraiture has remained constant.

Lately, I have been interested in finding beauty in the mundane, particularly through the lens of old photographs. I spend my free time poring over my grandparents’ photo albums, drawn to the candid nature of the images. There’s something special about photographs taken simply to capture a moment in time, without the self-consciousness of how that moment might be perceived by others.

My latest series reimagines scenes from these photographs. An image of my grandmother and her friends sitting by the pool in her Michigan backyard becomes three women in a setting inspired by Slim Aarons. A snapshot of my great-grandfather holding a napkin during Passover Seder becomes a man holding a tray of martinis against a retro backdrop. I love the way these ordinary moments can take on a new life through painting.

I paint for the experience of creating itself, which makes it especially meaningful when someone connects with a piece and chooses to bring it into their home or office. Over time, people have begun to recognize my work and identify a distinct style within it. Developing that visual identity and seeing it become recognizable to others is something I am especially proud of.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I have learned that happiness comes from appreciating what’s right in front of you, and it took me a long time to truly understand that. I used to live with the mindset of “I’ll be happy when…” but now, I strive to find happiness in what is, rather than what could be.

I’m currently planning my wedding with my fiancé, who is the most supportive partner, and I get to spend my days with him our adoring pets, in a home where I have my own studio to paint for hours on end. I’m grateful for the simple fact that I get to experience these moments and slow down enough to appreciate them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kylierosenbloom.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylierosenbloom/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@kylierosenbloom