Joey Veltkamp

Joey Veltkamp is a queer, folk artist who makes soft paintings (blankets) and flags, which address themes of sadness, hope, and joy. His work has shown at galleries and museums such as Seattle Art Museum, Bellevue Arts Museum, Greg Kucera Gallery, SOIL, Frye Art Museum, and many more. He has lived in the Puget Sound region since 1996 and has called Bremerton home for the past two years. Joey and his husband, Ben Gannon, run an alternative gallery space out of their house under the project name, cogean? The goal is to provide a hospitable venue for engagement with contemporary art across a variety of media and foster relationships between Bremerton and the larger Pacific Northwest creative community. Joey is a self-taught artist who began painting after a boss gave him a gift certificate to an art supply store. In 2007, he shifted from paintings to textiles to create works that physically comforted their users.

Joey Veltkamp received 2019 GAP Award funding to purchase a higher quality sewing machine. This will allow him to make larger pieces more quickly for an upcoming solo exhibition. He has been using the most basic machines since he began sewing so this upgrade will make a huge difference in his work.