Women of The Cre8tors: Kelly Allison
1. What inspired you to pursue your career in the creative industry? Though I fell into the creative industry backwards, my affinity for image creation stems from profound emotional experiences with the visuals of photos and film in my childhood—experiences that deeply resonated with love, the magic of a moment, and the expansiveness of the human story. As I moved into the commercial space, the human connection to food—from seed to indulgence—became my central muse. As one of the two essentials for human existence (along with sex), food is not only critical for survival but also central to our story. Like sex, food has the power to nourish, heal, and create deep bonds. It connects us to the earth, to culture, to history, and to each other. Food has the power to build communities and restore balance. These are the seeds at the center of my drive, my vision, and my work.
2. What does being a woman in this industry mean to you?Being a woman / femme in the commercial advertising industry means embracing my identity and power to challenge structures that thrive on marginalizing the many to preserve the dominance of the few. It’s recognizing that the femme experience is not singular but multifaceted and complex, shaped by the intersection of race, class, ability, age, sexuality, and history. Advertising must reflect these truths in the stories we tell. It means carrying the weight of responsibility that comes with privilege—whether through access, visibility, or resources—and transforming any advantage I hold into a tool for resistance and change. Being a femme in this space means honoring the wisdom passed down from our ancestors while imagining and building a world where all women and femmes are celebrated, revered, and seen for their inherent brilliance. It’s about finding the courage to dismantle oppressive frameworks. Ultimately it's about living, creating, and existing from a place of radical love—and despite whatever challenges may arise, it remains one of the greatest joys of my life.
3. Can you share a glimpse into your creative process—any rituals, inspirations, or must-have tools? Ooh, I love these kinds of questions where I get to share peeks into my secrets. I’m a big fan of tearing down the gates of the keepers. My creative process starts with making space—physically, emotionally, and mentally. Centering myself is a must before I can tap into the creativity that flows through me. I usually begin by thought dumping, followed by talking through ideas with myself. My current workflow starts with a transcription app—Otter.ai—to capture my thoughts, and then I bounce ideas around with AI chatbots—ChatGPT, Claude—as editing collaborators to help organize and refine my concepts. (Note: When using AI as a collaborator, I recommend bouncing between platforms to refine your vision and get the most authentic result.) From there, I dive into research—Behance, Pinterest, fine art, visual publications, vintage advertising—the list goes on. I’m looking for inspiration on lighting design, image capture, composition, and framing, always staying open to that unexpected element that ignites the idea. Once I’ve gathered my research, I start sketching by hand to build out composition and story framework. Depending on the project scope, these sketches get refined and/or animated in Photoshop, or sometimes take a trip through generative AI. But the creative process is never solitary. I work with a brilliant team of lighting techs, cinematographers, creatives, and producers whose input truly shapes the final product. We’re in constant conversation from concept to completion. At its core, my process is a collaborative powerhouse, driven by trust, creativity, and shared brilliance.
4. Who are some women—past or present—who inspire your work? My work is inspired by the women and femmes around me—those I’m building with, learning from, and growing alongside. Beyond those I’m directly connected with, I’m driven by the stories of those who take risks, speak truth, and center love. I’m constantly inspired by those who use their art, their voice, their influence to challenge power dynamics, dismantle oppressive systems, and build community. I’m inspired by authors, artists, and musicians who embrace abundance—believing there’s no limit to creative energy, ideas, and possibilities, and living fully in that truth. It’s a mindset that has the power to unlock limitless potential.
5. How do you hope your work impacts or inspires other women? I want my work to empower people who are socialized as women to recognize their own strength and limitless potential. My hope is to ignite a fire—proving through my work and my life that with love at the center and community as the ultimate goal, all things are possible. By embracing collective living and rejecting scarcity, we can create ecosystems that heal, grow, and liberate. I want my work to shake people to their core, inspire them to pursue their dreams fearlessly, and prove that together, we are an unstoppable force.
6. What’s a project or piece of work you’re most proud of, and why? I’m super excited about a recent personal project focused on the femmes in my creative ecosystem who’ve deeply impacted my life. I offered them a portrait session in a community setting as a gift—a way to express gratitude for their individual influence in my world and to bring my ecosystem together for a play date. What began as a simple gesture turned into an intimate, healing, and deeply empowering experience for everyone involved. There’s something profoundly transformative about seeing yourself in a photograph that reflects your strength and beauty—it’s a strong telling of your visual story, a preserved moment in time, and a truth about existence. Connecting deeply with your own story through something as seemingly simple as photography is immeasurable. This project reinforced for me the importance of preserving and celebrating our stories, and ignited a new fire in my soul. I’m excited to expand this further and see where it can go.