Kim Kelly, Sophiella Gallery, Mobile

“If you don’t believe you can do it, you’re right, If you do think you can do it, you’re right!”

What a special place Sophiella Gallery on Dauphin Street in Downtown Mobile is. I had a wonderful time visiting with Kim Kelly, learning about her and her family and how the gallery came into being. When you walk in the door, you are immediately transported. The art and the space create an air of sophistication and the creative energy is palpable. 

Kim was born in Minot, North Dakota. Her parents were children of Norwegian immigrants who grew up on homesteaded wheat farms.  Her parents met at Minot State University, home of Buckshot the Beaver. Her father was a legislative aide and moved the family to the Washington, DC area when Kim was in the 3rd grade. She grew up in Reston, Virginia, a suburb of DC. 

She attended Virginia Tech University where she earned her BS degree in Communications with an emphasis on film, video, and photography. She produced commercials and instructional videos for a post-production house in DC, and met her future husband, Clark Kelly, during that time. Clark was a native Mobilian, working as an accountant in DC.

Kim tells me, “Clark ended up hating accounting and had always wanted to fly. So in a sudden change of events, things began to quickly evolve. He took the preliminary written and actual flight test to be an Air Force pilot and was accepted! He ended up graduating at the top of his pilot training class and was assigned to Torrejon Air Force base in Madrid, Spain flying F-16 Fighters.

They figured it was a peaceful time and this would be a great adventure. Soon thereafter, the first Gulf War began and Clark was deployed to Bagdad. “That was a stressful time, to say the least! Oh, and I forgot to mention that we worked in our wedding between pilot training and deploying overseas!”

Kim had a darkroom in Spain and developed her own film and prints. When Clark returned from the Gulf War, the couple lived in downtown Madrid for two years until Clark was assigned to Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. Both of their daughters, now 29 and 31, were born there. “We decided that we didn’t want to raise our family in a military lifestyle, moving constantly, so Clark joined his family’s business and moved the family to Mobile in 1995.

Soon Kim developed a children and family portrait business. Her friends helped the business evolve when they saw the portraits she had done of her family and convinced her to photograph their family as well. All her work was shot outside with natural light and printed in black and white.

Kim and Clark’s third child, William, 26, was born in Mobile, and the two spent 20 years raising their family in Midtown. Daughter Avery is an Environmental and Human Rights attorney who attended law school at Georgetown Law. Kate Kelly, a Music Therapist in Nashville, uses music as a tool in therapy. William attended Auburn and is in Mobile working in the family industrial supply business, Alpha Supply. All three are married.

Along the way, Kim and Clark began buying, fixing, and flipping houses in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. One day, they were sitting at Panini Pete’s on Dauphin Street in downtown Mobile (now Squid Ink) and noticed a building for sale across the street. “We thought we were ready to invest in commercial property, so we purchased the building, and spent a year renovating it as visions of opening an art gallery developed.”

Kim began thinking, “Wouldn’t it be nice to see a lot of local artists as well as artists from outside the area, all in one convenient and tasteful setting? At the time, Cathedral Gallery was closing and artists were looking for a new place to showcase their art. “Everyone was enthusiastic about the idea,” says Kim.

"Sophi-Ella” is a play on both Kim and Clark’s grandmothers’ first names, Sophia and Ella. “The grand opening in 2018 was an exhilarating event! All the local artists invited their friends, family, and followers. The community responded in such a positive way. Mayor Sandy Stimpson came to welcome us, and we felt so embraced by the city.”

That positivity made Kim feel like she wanted to become more involved in the downtown community. She was asked to tell her Sophiella Gallery story to the Downtown Rotary Club and then was invited to join. She joined the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Mobile Alliance, Visit Mobile, and Impact 100- Mobile.

She admits she was a bit intimated at first, but giving back is important to her. She likes to involve the entire community and host cultural events at the Gallery including people from all walks of life, many of whom may have never been in an art gallery before. “We want to be a draw for people to come downtown to shop, dine, and be entertained.” 

As Jazz music is playing in the background, several people wander into the gallery. Kim says, “Bringing people together is important to me. I believe Sophiella Gallery should be a “third place,” not home, not work, but a place you can come to decompress and enjoy art. I never want people to feel intimated, or that they must purchase art when they visit. I just want it to be a safe place to take a break from life and enjoy.” 

The Downtown Mobile Alliance recognized Sophiella Gallery’s contribution and awarded Kim its Mainstreet Mobile Engaging Third Place. The gallery itself features art at all price points starting at $20 but specializes in larger canvases. “We work with lots of interior designers, so we have to offer a wide variety of sizes and styles in order to be able to place art in people’s homes and businesses. People like art that reflects their surroundings,” she says.

“I try to carry art that has a wide-ranging appeal, art that fits varying personalities. I want to represent artists that are relatable, whimsical, playful, and peaceful.” Most of the artists she carries are trained and educated in painting or three-dimensional work. “Part of the enjoyment as a gallerist and business owner is getting to know the artists themselves. Asking questions like, What emotions and experiences inspire you to create?”

She enjoys getting to know collectors and learning what they desire to put in their homes and businesses. “The beauty of an art gallery is bringing artists and collectors together. Carrying the best artists from the Gulf Coast and beyond is important to me. Getting to know the people on both sides of the equation, the artists, and collectors, is so rewarding. It’s helped Sophiella Gallery live up to its slogan, connecting people with art that speaks to them.”

All of Sophiella Gallery’s art is brokered between the artist and the collector. Kim does facilitate some commissioned pieces, especially when working with interior designers whose clients like a particular artist but need a specific-sized painting to fit a space. “We encourage collectors to take art home on approval to be sure they will be happy with their investment because things do look different at home or in your office.”

Sophiella Gallery is open during Mobile’s ArtWalk every second Friday of the month. They also rent their space for small private events for up to 50 people. “We have lots of baby showers, bridal showers, corporate events, birthday parties, things like that. It’s a fun venue in which to gather and celebrate.”

I asked Kim about the resurgence of Downtown Mobile since the gallery opened. “I’ve noticed that Mobile has a thriving travel industry with conventions, festivals, events, and general activity. There is a lot of positive energy, and we have lots of people come into the gallery.”

Kim and Clark moved to Dog River ten years ago. They love spending time on the water, therefore a lot of the art she carries has “water influences.” Just before opening the gallery she and Clark took their boat to Havana. “That was a fantastic experience.”

Thank you, Kim. Your warmth and spirit shine through in all you do. Be sure to check out Sophiella Gallery the next time you are in Downtown Mobile!