Artist Kybor Carlsen's Story - From Passion to Purpose

Background & Education

I trained at the University of the Arts London, completing a BA (Hons) in Fine Art: Print and Digital Media at Wimbledon College of Art (2007–2011), following a Diploma in Foundation Art & Design at Chelsea College of Art and Design (2005–2007).
My years of study, combined with over a decade as a technician at LCF, UAL, shaped both my technical precision and my creative exploration.

Passion Meets Purpose

KYBOR is my vision as both artist and designer, shaped by a journey of transformation and exploration. At its heart is the courage to live and create authentically, turning ideas of identity into something you can see, touch, and wear.

Rediscovering Creativity

For thirteen years, I worked behind the scenes at UAL as a technician. My role was to support staff and students in their creative endeavours - helping them solve technical challenges, bringing their visions to life, and quietly celebrating their successes. It was meaningful work, but a question remained unanswered: What about my own creativity?

Over time, that inner calling grew louder. With a fine art background and countless ideas simmering beneath the surface, I reached a point where the only way forward was to step into my own practice. Leaving a secure role behind was daunting, but it opened the door to rediscovering my voice as an artist and shaping something deeply personal.

Where it all Began

The catalyst for the venture came about when my partner, James, requested a t-shirt design he could wear to celebrate Gay Pride 2024 because he could not find anything interesting out there to buy that could represent him.

The t-shirt I created was of a Tom of Finland inspired leatherman holding a Pride rainbow coloured whip design and by the end of the day several people saw the design - I remember my joy seeing people’s eyes light up with excitement and asking us where they could buy one. This is it. I thought to myself - I’ve never seen a reaction like this before. That was all the confirmation I needed. There were moments I doubted myself. What if no one gets it? What if this is just a fantasy.

Several months later I launched the KYBOR brand on 15 January 2025. Using my fine art education in print making and digital media to translates my fascination with human behaviour and connection into a range of expressive clothing and wall art prints.

Sources of Inspiration

The work I now create draws deeply on the vibrancy of London’s gay culture, its resilience, energy, and unapologetic joy. These communities, so often misunderstood, have long inspired me with their ability to embody courage and solidarity while celebrating individuality.

Alongside this, nature has always been a vital influence. Its patterns, cycles, and quiet resilience mirror the themes I explore through identity and connection. Whether in the stillness of a tree, the tension of growth, or the balance of opposing forces, nature offers a reminder that creativity is both instinctive and universal. For me, it represents a grounding presence, an ever-present source of renewal and clarity that flows through my work.

From these combined sources of inspiration, KYBOR emerged as both fine art prints and wearable pieces. Each work captures a tension between strength and vulnerability, identity and expression. They are not simply objects, but stories made visible - artworks that invite connection, spark reflection, and give form to the spirit of fearlessness and renewal.

The Journey of Making

Like many independent artists, my practice requires wearing many hats: artist, designer, communicator, technician, and more. Dyslexia and social anxiety bring their own challenges, but they are also part of the creative process, shaping my work with honesty and authenticity. The obstacles remind me that making art is rarely simple - it is about persistence, resilience, and allowing vulnerability to transform into something powerful.

Printmaking and design have become the vehicles through which I explore these themes. The combination of fine art precision and contemporary expression allows each piece to exist both as an intimate object and as part of a broader conversation about creativity, connection, and the natural world.

Why I Create

My work explores the delicate space between people: what we search for, what we reveal, and what we expect when we reach toward one another. Connection is never simple - it carries both vulnerability and strength, intimacy and distance. I am interested in how these unspoken dynamics shape our behaviour, and how they can be translated into visual form.

Through this lens, my practice becomes less about depicting individuals and more about evoking the tensions, longings, and unguarded moments that arise in the act of being together. In many ways, these encounters mirror the natural world, where balance and tension, harmony and disruption, coexist. Just as rivers carve their path or trees lean toward the light, our connections leave traces - shaping us, grounding us, and reminding us that to be together is both fragile and profoundly resilient.

Rooted in a fascination with human connection and behaviour, drawing inspiration from fetish culture, colour, and the fluidity of line. Each piece is conceived as both artwork and design object - playful yet reflective - inviting you to wear, encounter, and embody ideas that challenge and celebrate expression.

Looking Ahead

At its essence, my practice is about connection - between artist and viewer, between self and community, between the seen and unseen parts of ourselves, between the human and the natural. Each work is made with care, carrying a sense of purpose, and offering a moment of recognition for those who encounter it.

This is still the beginning of my journey, and I am excited to share it. Through art, I hope to create spaces that feel inclusive, expressive, and alive with possibility - spaces where individuality is not just seen, but celebrated, and where the essence of nature reminds us of our place within something larger.

I am delighted to share the opening of KYBOR - a space where art and design meet to celebrate bold expression, identity, and community. Each piece is created with the same attention an artist brings to canvas or sculpture, yet made to be lived with, worn, and enjoyed.

I invite you to explore the collections and find a piece that resonate with your own story.

You can follow along and see the work evolve on Instagram @kyborlondon.