BIO

I grew up on a farm in Minnesota and studied fashion design and fine arr in Wisconsin and traveled abroad to study photography / theater in London. In 1994, I relocated to the West Village of New York City, where I immersed myself in the energy of the city. During this time I traveled as much as possible through North and South America, Europe, and India. My work is inspired as much by everyday moments as by extraordinary experiences, and by an ongoing search for deeper meaning and spiritual connection.

Today I live in upstate New York, where I spend as much time in nature as I can. That connection to the natural world finds its way into my paintings and mixed-media work, using acrylic paint, oil crayon, spray paint, fabric, and found objects.

Alongside my studio practice, I create large-scale murals and community-engaged public art. In 2009, I founded Youth Mural Arts, a program that brings young people together to design and paint murals in their own communities. Through this work, art becomes a way to build confidence, strengthen connections, and inspire young people to make a positive impact where they live.

My background in fashion design eventually led me to print my artwork on fabric, creating 11:11 Style—Fine Art Into Fashion, a collection of wearable art inspired by my paintings. Designed for movement, yoga, and everyday life, the collection includes ready-to-wear and street wear pieces that reflect my belief that art doesn't have to stay on a gallery wall—it can be part of everyday life. More than 5,000 pieces have found homes around the world, and the collection continues to grow.

I'm grateful that my work has been exhibited in galleries, featured in publications, and collected in public and private collections around the world.

If you'd like to know more about me, you'll find it in my art.

With gratitude for the support of organizations including the A to Z Impact Fund, The Giving Back Foundation, The Awesome Foundation, Global Sisters Fund, Healthy Kids, ArtsWestchester, the Boys & Girls Club, the Hudson Valley Foundation for Youth Health, Ulster BOCES, the Kiwanis Club, Peekskill Rotary, Art in Public Places (Jacksonville, Florida), and the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, among many others.

“People like Kelli help to make the world a better place. We are lucky to have such an amazing Ambassador to the Arts.  Kelli’s zest for the arts and her community is infectious.”

-Lori McNee, Power Artist

SELECTED​ ​AWARDS:

2025 Hudson Valley Foundation for Youth Health - Boys and Girls Club Mural

2025 A to Z Impact Fund award - Boys and Girls Club Mural

2024  Dandelion Wishes mural,, Esopus Creek

2023 Saugerties Village cultural grant recipient - Rocky Owl,  mural arts program

2023  Lions Club grant recipient - Rocky Owl, mural arts program

2023 Kiwanas award grant recipient - Rocky Owl, mural arts program

2022 Creatives Rebuild New York $18,000 grant recipient 

2022 SELCO grant recipient - Main Street, mural arts program / Minnesota

2022 Paint the Town grant recipient - Main Street, mural arts program / Minnesota

2020 Saugerties Village cultural grant recipient for mural arts program, Strong Together

2019 Saugerties Village cultural grant recipient for mural arts program

2018 Awesome Foundation grant recipient for mural in Poughkeepsie, NY

2018 The Giving Back Foundation grant recipient, Love Bomb, Poughkeepsie Community Center

2017​ ​Ulster​ ​Boces,​ ​PTA​ ​grant​ ​recipient, Cahill Elementary Courtyard Beautification, Mural

2016​ ​Ulster​ ​Boces,​ ​PTA​ ​grant​ ​recipient, Cahill Elementary Courtyard Beautification, Mural

2015​ ​Global​ ​Sisters​ ​Fund,​ ​Scholarship for World Peace Mural, Salt Lake City, UT

2015​ ​A​ ​to​ ​Z​ ​Impact​ ​Fund,​ ​grant​ ​for​ ​the​ ​World​ ​Peace​ ​Mural, Woodstock, NY

2014​ ​Healthy​ ​Kids​ ​grant​ ​recipient,​ ​Youth​ ​Mural​ ​Arts - Five Hudson Valley After-School programs

2013​ ​Vision​ ​for​ ​White​ ​Plains,​ ​grant​ ​recipient​ ​ArtsWestchester 

2011​ ​ARTS​ ​Alive​ ​grant​ ​recipient​ ​from​ ​ArtsWestchester - The Banner Project

2010​ ​ARTS​ ​Alive​ ​grant​ ​recipient​ ​from​ ​ArtsWestchester, Peekskill Youth Center

2010​ ​Peekskill​ ​Rotary​ ​grant​ ​for​ ​Youth​ ​Mural​ ​Arts, Peekskill Youth Center

2010​ ​Peekskill​ ​BID​ ​grant​ ​for​ ​Youth​ ​Mural​ ​Arts, Peekskill Youth Center 

2010​ ​MTA​ design ​finalist​ ​for​ ​Port​ ​Chester​ ​Train​ ​Station, New York 

2007​ ​Integral​ ​Institute,​ ​featured​ ​artist

2004​ ​Art​ ​in​ ​Public​ ​Places​ ​Grant,​ ​Jacksonville,​ ​FL  - Brentwood Library Mural

2001​ ​MTV​ ​showcased​ ​artist,​ ​Times​ ​Square,​ ​NYC - Exhibition of fine art