BIO

Words About My Art

My work explores the intersection of nature, mythology, and spiritual symbolism through vibrant color and expressive form. The paintings often exist somewhere between the physical and symbolic worlds — landscapes that feel both familiar and dreamlike, where botanical environments, animals, and archetypal imagery become vessels for emotional and spiritual storytelling.

Early experiences with the rhythms of nature and expansive rural landscapes on a farm in Minnesota continue to shape the visual language of my art. Forests, animals, and organic forms appear frequently, grounding the imagery in the natural world while opening space for more symbolic and mythic interpretations. 14 years of life in the West Village of NYC strengthened my practice through lived experience and immersion into the electric fold of city life.

Over more than three decades of studio practice, a distinctive visual vocabulary has emerged that blends elements of folk symbolism, contemporary painting, pop art and sacred imagery. While my paintings are often bold and visually immediate, the intention is to create work that carries deeper layers of meaning — inviting moments of reflection, curiosity, and emotional connection.

Travel has played an important role in shaping the perspective behind my paintings. Time spent throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and India has provided exposure to a wide range of landscapes, artistic traditions, and cultural philosophies. Ongoing exploration of spiritual and contemplative traditions from around the world continues to inform the symbolic language within the paintings, where themes of transformation, nature, and interconnectedness frequently appear.

Alongside studio practice, large-scale murals and public art projects have become an important part of the creative path. In 2009 I founded Youth Mural Arts, a grassroots public art program that brings young people together to design and create murals within their communities. Through this work, art becomes both a creative outlet and a catalyst for collaboration, empowerment, and civic engagement. Gratitude to support from 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 in Jacksonville, Florida, and the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, among others.

My art extends into fashion through 11:11 Style — Fine Art Into Fashion, a collection of wearable artwork inspired by the paintings and designed for movement, yoga, and everyday life. These garments reflect a belief that art does not need to remain confined to traditional gallery spaces, but can live alongside us in daily experience.

Anything else you want to know about me can be found in my art.,

“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