Courtesy ABOVE: ‘Untitled' is fabric, acrylic, ink, foam and paper in a large shadow box. LEFT: 'In the Woods No. 6' shows Alice buried under a pile of stuff. RIGHT: O'Connor says she likes to have fun with color and texture, as in ‘Anxious Alices.'

WHO: Kelly O'Connor, 25

MEDIA: Collages made from paper, fabric and found images

BEST KNOWN FOR: Using Disney memorabilia from the 1950s and 1960s (mostly found on eBay) to explore the less-than-wholesome side of childhood stories. She also incorporates elements from traditional fairytales, such as “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Hansel and Gretel” (both rather disturbing stories). Alice from “Alice in Wonderland” — which was, after all, written by a man rumored to have pedophilic tendencies — is another common figure in her work.

THE RESULT? Collages that resemble illustrations from a twisted children's book. Her “In the Woods” series, for example, includes a piece in which Alice has been buried under a pile of rubble, with only her Mary Janes sticking out.

As a child, O'Connor was a fan of everything Disney; the collages allow her to re-examine her childhood memories. She often uses Alice to act out some of her childhood fears.

“A lot of times, I'm taking my own experience growing up in suburbia and then sort of delving into this fantastical Disney realm,” she said. “And also, I'm having fun with color and texture.”

BACKGROUND: A San Antonio native, O'Connor attended McArthur High School, then earned her BFA at% UT Austin.

DAY JOB: O'Connor is a collection registrar for the Linda Pace Foundation.

INFLUENCES: Photographer Anna Gaskell. “She uses narrative in a way I'm really attracted to,” O'Connor said. Another influence? Cake decorating. “If I could be doing anything else, besides being an artist, I'd be a cake decorator,” she said. “I just really like the lushness and the colors and everything about it.”

CHECK HER OUT: O'Connor's work is included in “And so the story goes .....” at Unit B, 500 Stieren St. The closing reception is 7-10 p.m. March 7. Visit unitbgallery.com.

Jessica Belasco | 210SA Contributor