About

About EXOLANSIS

EXOLANSIS began as artist Susan Kelly’s MFA thesis and has expanded into an artistic small business that exhibits at multiple large pop culture events annually, hosts an online shop, and whose pieces are collected by many fans around the globe. Specializing in handcrafted acrylic earrings, ITA Bags, enamel pins, and now claw clips- EXOLANSIS’s pieces are inspired by anime, sci-fi, and global pop culture. They’re the perfect finishing piece to any cosplay, or they can add that fandom flair to any daily outfit!

Check out EXOLANSIS.com to shop and see all designs!

Instagram/tiktok: @1919Susie_EXOLANSIS

MFA Background

Inspired by the way Korean pop idols are trained and packaged into an “ideal image,” sculpted by companies- and how high of a standard they are held to by the public and their own fans. Many common idol-concepts involves otherworldly themes, such as the idols having supernatural abilities of even being from another planet- this helps create a skewed sense of reality between the idols and the fans that worship them.

By using traditional stained glass techniques and the viewers’ preconceived notions about the religious history of the medium, I create idealized portraits of Korean pop idols, as seen through the eyes of their fans. Where many idols are held on such high pedestals that they are being worshiped as holy figures and stripped of their humanity. Thus creating a new Hallyu Wave of modern iconography.

In recent years, I have been a featured guest at both KCON NY and KCON LA annually, where I can exhibit my works as well as teach several workshops. Each workshop teaches attendants aspects of my personal works, such as how to embroider, or paint portraits based on my stained glass designs. Each year the workshops grow in complexity, with over 2,000 attendants collectively.

E-mail: Artistsusan.kelly@gmail.com