Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimerlee Curyl.
Hi Kimerlee, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Such a hard question to distill down. I really think horses were simply calling me back to a place that felt like home, authentic and meaningful.
I lived in Los Angeles for 17 years and was working really hard towards a career in acting. The last coach I had in that field had somewhat adopted this orphanage in Tijuana, a group of us would travel down with her helping where we could. I started bringing my camera down and fell deeply in love with photography, again, as I had loved it in high school.
Around this time, the movie Seabiscuit came out, I sat in that theater sobbing until the lights came on. I mean, I had loved and worshipped horses as a kid, yet we never had the means for me to have one, or even take lessons. The emotions were overwhelming me. The next day, I went to the Burbank Equestrian Center, signed up for lessons, and three months later was leasing a horse, three months after that, I had a horse of my own. Shortly thereafter acting was in the rearview mirror, and photography just unfolded in the most organic way. Wild horses and the plight they have continued to face entered my life, and there was no turning back. It’s certain that horses played a pivotal role in my personal and professional life.
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?
I think obstacles and challenges are part of an artist’s DNA. It’s important to recognize that obstacles and challenges are a natural part of the creative process and that artists can learn to embrace them as a catalyst for growth and self-discovery.
The only times I have truly contemplated “giving up” has been more about the issues wild horses face. They are caught in some pretty archaic crosshairs over range wars driven by special interests. I’ve seen horrific acts committed against these majestic creatures in the name of greed. It can bring your spirit pretty low, but it also ignights a fire in you.
As an artist, you have a unique platform and voice to bring attention to important causes and issues. You can use your art to raise awareness, inspire others to take action and create a positive impact. It’s also essential to take care of yourself and find ways to stay motivated and inspired.
I have always said, “art has a voice”. I wrote that really early on in my career, and it has been a gift to watch it truly come to fruition.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
These images are of our majestic wild horses, living free on our Western public lands. Captured on their terms, absolutely nothing is contrived. Through the work, you are experiencing precious moments in time, a sliver of their wild lives. They survive in harsh rugged landscapes and ask for nothing…except their freedom and their families.
They are the strongest and most fierce of all horses, yet, are soft and calming, nurturing and caring. They inspire me.
I started this journey in 2004, and the work had its twists and turns. But it wasn’t long before I settled on a unique view of the horse, maybe not imagined before. They are a rich, graceful tapestry of massive muscle and shear poetry in motion. Using my eye as an artist but also a horsewoman to capture their essence. I want to inspire people to see these sentient creatures on a deep level and care about their future in our amazing wild world.
I am also an ambassador to The American Wild Horse Campaign, assisting in raising awareness for their future protection. 20% of my conservation series is donated to this organization, working so hard to see they have a future on the land they belong on. Please give their site a visit to learn more.
What were you like growing up?
I loved horses. I begged for one every chance I got. And at 35 years old, I was finally immersed in the little girl’s dream I never grew out of.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kimerleecuryl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimerleecuryl.wildhorsephotos/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimerleeCurylWildHorseFineArtPhotography
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0o_rNX7zmUCBIqzi6R9z_Q
Image Credits
Kimerlee Curyl Wild Horse Fine Art
