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The Reincarnations Journey
In the mid-1980's, artists Michael Vain and Kali Cornelis were looking for a way to express their mutual talents, when Kali hand painted a child's tricycle with a whimsical pattern, something she felt was outside her comfort zone and the perfect challenge to inspire her. The reception of this work inspired her to begin creating custom hand painted furniture along with her partner Michael, forming what became the Reincarnations Hand Painted Furniture Studio. Their original concept centered around giving old furniture a new life through artistic transformation, and the name fit their process perfectly.
The Reincarnations Hand Painted Furniture & Other Artistic Creations studio blossomed into a full time career for its artists, who found their work accepted into NICHE Award-winning contemporary art galleries as well as some of the most prestigious juried artisan craft shows on the East Coast. Their mission: to bring joy and whimsy into the lives of others through the creation of fun functional art, while encouraging the creative process in everyone. At its height, the Reincarnations Hand Painted Furniture & Other Artistic Creations studio created pieces for both juried artisan craft shows and award-winning contemporary art galleries, while also continuing to produce functional art commissioned by individual clients. Not confined to one medium, the studio produced works in its signature style in a variety of mediums, including sculpture and murals in addition to its painted furniture. No project or piece was too large or too small.
Today, the Reincarnations Hand Painted Furniture studio continues in its mission to provide fun functional art for its clients with the hope of inspiring creativity in others, both through painted vintage pieces and original designs built and painted in our studio. Let us create an original work for you or a loved one which is sure to be the focal point for any decor, or a special heirloom.
The Artists of Reincarnations
KALININ CORNELIS, better known as Kali, painted a vintage tricycle with a paisley design, a project that inspired her decision to begin creating painted furniture as a profession. A self-taught visionary artist, Kali desired to bring a sense of whimsy and wonder into the world, working in a variety of mediums, she formed Reincarnations Hand Painted Furniture and Other Artistic Creations with her partner, and sought to bring her unique vision of the world to others, often mentoring those interested in the arts, and hosting summer art camps for children. Sadly, she passed away in 2017, but her spirit and her desire to bring art and whimsy into the world has remained undiminished. Although missed dearly, her presence remains in every work of furniture from our studio.
MICHAEL VAIN began drawing and painting at an early age, and pursued a number of creative outlets in various mediums before teaming with Kali Cornelis to form the Reincarnations Hand Painted Furniture & Other Artistic Creations studio. Together, they produced whimsical works of functional art in various mediums for many years before Kali passed away in 2017. Today, Michael continues to pursue their original vision, along with the help of his children.
Michael is also an author of several fiction books dealing with alternate realities and strange events with an existential edge. His books can be found on his website, where you can learn more about his writing and published works.
BRIANNA and KATRINA both bring different creative talents to the Reincarnations studio, continuing to fulfill the mission of the studio in bringing a sense of fun and whimsy to the world through functional art. Artists in their own right, they contribute to the creative vision with their own creative talents.
SAVANNAH is the latest artist to join our family, and like her sisters, she has a strong creative streak, enjoying both musical and visual arts. She enjoys creating visual art alongside her father Michael, who is teaching her to paint furniture in her own unique style.