We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kelsey O’Brien. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Kelsey, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Michelle and I have a lot in common, which is why we became quick friends long before we became business partners. Over the weekend we attended our mutual friend’s 5 year old daughter’s birthday party at a horse barn. Arguably, Michelle and I got more joy being around the horses, goats, chickens and kittens than any of the small children.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kelsey and my business partner is Michelle. We are the co-founders of MK Envision Galleries, an online photography art gallery, and Shelf Love Collective, an ethical home decor shop. We had to pivot MK Envision Galleries from a brick-and-mortar gallery in Point Loma to online only in 2021. We represent 12 San Diego based fine art photographers, whose work is offered as framed fine art prints, acrylic, aluminum or canvas. Somewhere along the way while running the art gallery, Michelle and I saw a need in the home decor sector for thoughtfully curated artisan-made home goods. We developed the idea for Shelf Love Collective and launched our new endeavor in 2023.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Volunteering with my high school to build houses in Tijuana as a teenager was really a life changing experience. I remember taking in this completely different way of life that was only 1 hour away from my home, yet worlds apart. The people in that community lived in shacks that ran up a hillside. The children played in the streets with a deflated old soccer ball as we constructed simple, crude houses to replace their cardboard and plywood homes. The people there did not have access to clean water or a functional sewage system. I remember driving back across the border full of gratitude for the environment I was born into and a desire to help those less fortunate, some way, somehow. Spending time in that community opened my eyes to the fact that there are vulnerable people and marginalized communities that need help and compassion. I also became aware that the world has limited resources and that it is our duty to be good stewards of those resources.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of judgement has held me back at various times throughout my life. I am very relationally inclined and care deeply about other people. The unfortunate flip-side is that I care too deeply what other people may think about me, which has been a hinderance in my life. Teaming up with Michelle helped me immensely, not only through our friendship, but also through discovering together a greater calling through our businesses. Once we put our minds to our endeavors, it became less about ourselves and more about creating something much bigger than us with the goal of helping other people. That mission has made any self-consciousness melt away.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
Both Michelle and I share a deep desire and commitment to help instigate a cultural mindset shift from throw-away consumption to slow, meaningful consumption. We feel that more than ever, our society is facing a huge issue – the unsustainable consumption of mass-produced goods and the enormous human and environmental cost. This problem will only get worse if we don’t change the way we shop and interact with the items we bring into our homes. We know how intimidating it can be to change habits or even know where to start. Our mission is to make it easy and approachable to change shopping habits to slower, more meaningful decisions. Shelf Love Collective is our way to help people make that shift when it comes to home decor. That idea can then be carried into all other purchasing decisions such as fashion, food, furniture, etc.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I think I do figuratively “tap dance to work” right now! I feel called to my work and what we are trying to build with Shelf Love Collective and I am so grateful to get to work toward this goal every day with my best friend. We face many challenges and new roadblocks each day that we try to take in stride and tackle with a good attitude. We believe that every purchase our customers make has so much significance and goodness behind it. That money fairly pays the artisan who skillfully made it, the materials were harvested from the earth in a sustainable way, and we believe this new way of thinking about our purchases can have a ripple effect into other purchases and the way we think about each item we buy. Our dream is that collectively we can shift away from the negative aspects of consumerism into slower, more thoughtful consumerism that does good for people and the planet.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: mk_envision, shelflove_co
Image Credits
Image Credit: Kim Belverud Photography
