Artist Bio
Artist Statement
As an artist and leader of Crayon Kelly Agency, my journey has been a vibrant tapestry of experiences, emotions, and evolution. My artistry began in high school, and it has since grown into a profound passion that has shaped my life and career. With a degree in Graphic Design, I've honed my skills and expanded my creative horizons. But my art is not just about the past, it's about the future. It's about the continuous journey of self-discovery and expression.
Today, I stand at a new juncture. After a decade and a half of building an art business, impacting lives, and giving back to the community, I am now focusing on my individual journey as an artist. My suitcase of experiences, once bursting at the seams, has exploded into a kaleidoscope of emotions and stories. These are not just my stories, but universal narratives of life, love, struggle, and triumph.
My mixed media images are a reflection of these emotions. They are a dialogue between the past and the future, the personal and the universal. The crayon in my work symbolizes the innocence and safety of childhood, while other elements add depth and context. Each piece includes a dictionary cutout relevant to the theme, adding a layer of visual and conceptual meaning.
But my art is more than just images. It's a conversation, a story, a piece of my soul. Each image carries a handwritten message, a secret whisper from me to the viewer. When you purchase an original piece, you're not just acquiring art, you're becoming a part of my journey and legacy.
As I look to the future, I am excited about the endless possibilities. I am committed to continuing to explore, create, and inspire. I am eager to share my art with the world, to touch lives, and to keep adding to my suitcase of experiences. Because for me, art is not just about creating, it's about living, growing, and transforming. And I can't wait to see where this journey takes me next.
Melted Crayon on Canvas with Mixed Media
I use many different mediums, such as Melted crayola crayons, acrylics, spray paint, ink, pastels, digital art and sculptures. I believe that art is meant to be exploratory and that is what I do. 15+ years as a professional artist has allowed me to work with most mediums available. A few of my favorites are listed above. I choose to not be restrictive to during my artistic process. Each idea manifests in its own individual style of Crayon Fine Art. Transpired from my Muralist heart.
My Inspiration
I have gone through many tragic events in life. During most of those times, I handled them in ways that were not the societal norm. For years I practiced self medication of my illness as a Severe Manic depressant As I have aged my accomplishments have been enormous. However deep down I have felt things such as sadness, loneliness, the inability too connect and this is what I have normally channeled into my work. My choices and paradigm has not always been the best. The consequences of those choices have impacted many around me and I choose to share my experience so others may learn.
Creative Leadership Resume
College
-Ai Minnesota BS in Graphic Design
Work History
-Restaurant experience 15 years All levels and supervisor or above at each company listed.
-Skateville -GrandSlam -Jillians -Chuck E. Cheese -Sonic.
-Insurance experience 12 years All levels of leadership at Aflac. Sales at others listed as a 1099 business owner.
-Health Partners -Delta Dental -VSP vision -Multiple Life Companies. (Still Licensed)
-PEO 2 years Sales Role (business consultant)
-Oasis
-Artist and Business owner/manager 14 years All Levels, All Roles as a small business owner.
-Shane and Kelly Anderson Illustrations 11 years. CFO, Marketing, Sales, Business Development, Organization Management, HR, Recruitment, Development and more
-Crayon Kelly 5 years All levels and All roles as a business owner and founder.
-Vp of Client Growth and Success 5months
-UrbanFT (remote deposit capture for banks)
Social Media Presence
-LinkedIn 30K plus Followers
-Instagram 8,500 Followers over 3 pages
-TikTok 8,500 Followers
-Facebook 8,000 Followers over 3 pages
Murals -
-17 murals over 6 years;
-Crescent Cove 2017 -Maplewood Mall 2017, 2018, 2019 --Spero Academy 2018, 2019 -Valleyfair 2019 -Gameworks 2019 -Cycle Bar 2019 -Hypointe Daycare 2019 -Pillbox Tavern 2020-Uptown nails 2020 -Yard Homes coming 2023-Rio 2022-Shout Out Loud 2022
Interactive Murals
-50+ interactive murals in 6 years
-Maplewood Mall 2017, 2018, 2019 -Language Banc 2018 -Children’s Hospital 2019 -Children’s Museum 2019 -Worldwide Healthcare Benefits Congress 2018 -Crayola 2018, 2019, 2020 -Rotary 2018 -Rebuilding Together Chicago 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 -Fraser 2019 -NUWAY 2016, 2017, 2018 -Minnesota United FC 2019 -Stoli Vodka 2019 -Variety Show 2019 -Stone arch Bridge Festival 2019 -MNCCC 2019 -Big Brothers Big Sisters 2018 -Let’s Do Minnesota 2018 -Saint Anne’s Place and CBRE 2018 -Wishes and More 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019,2021,2022-Make a wish 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020,2021,2022-Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 -TCWRD 2019 -Mac-Grove Fest 2019,2022-Trane 1 and 2 2019 -Guest book (wedding) 2019 -Nexus Gala 2019 -LeJeune Holiday Party 2020 -HBG Holiday Party 2020-Shout out Loud-2022-
Art shows
-30 Shows in 6 years
-Lakeville Art Festival 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 -Excelsior Art Show 2018, 2019 -Highland Fest Art show 2018 -Centennial Lakes Art show 2018 -Loving Park Art Show 2018, 2019 -Bay front Art Festival 2018 -Ann Arbor Art Show 2021 -Wells Street Chicago ArtFair 2021 -Uptown And Linden Hills Artcrawl 2020-Alpena 2022-Sandusky 2022-Duluth 2022-Edina Art Fair 2022
Special projects
-44 projects in 6 years
-Kindness Art Show 2019 -Pianos on Parade 2019,2020,2022 -Brain Injury Masks 2017, 2018 -Kids Color Fashion (Founder) #FWMN Fall 2019 -Winter Carnival button for Titan Prince 2020, 2021, 2022-Lower town Public Art grant 2020 -Crazy hair twins fest 2019 -Face painting for doodle productions 2019 -Crayola Bird Sculpture 2019 -Spero Academy Floor Mural 2019 -Kids Fashion Show workshops and runway experience during Fall Fashion Week 2019 -Maritini schools Kenya -Africa Artist residency 2020 -Food Movement Artist Residency Kilifi, Africa 2020 -Chalk Murals of Hope with Polaris and Crayola 2020 -Driveway Murals 2020, 2021 -Mpls Street Art Fest 2020, 2022 -Prior Lake Chalk Fest 2020 -Arbor Lakes Chalk Fest 2021, 2022-WBL Chalkfest 2022-Brooklyn Park ChalkFest 2020,2022 -ArtPrize Grand Rapids Michigan 2021 -Chalk Driveways 2020, 2021 -Girls are Powerful mentor for art education 2021 -Detroit Lakes Minnesota 150th Anniversary. 2 sailboats 2021 -Make A Wish Artist with a kid for gala 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 -Minneapolis Commission approved roaster artist added in 2021 -Ham Lake Snow Sculptor 2017, 2018, 2019 -Art Therapy Project with Christie Legal 2020 -Artists who share Featured Artist 2020 -George Floyd Awareness Mural artist on boards (privately funded) 2020 -LaLa IceCream Board Mural 2020-Wine Barrel Childrens-Art Battle Chicago 2022-Art For Life Chicago 2019, 2022-MPLS Convention center art lease program 2022-TCSW22 Speaker
Galleries
-39 exhibits in 6 years
-A to Z Gallery 2018, 2019 -Celebrate Art 2017, 2018, 2019 -Flagship Salon 2017, 2018, 2019 -Fairview Hospital Art display 2018, 2022 -Munkabeans Coffee shops 2018, 2019 -St Louis Park City Hall 2020, 2021 -St Louis Park Art Walk Artist 2020, 2021 -Owatonna Hospital Featured Artist 2021 -Phantasii virtual show 2021 -NEEMA 10x10 show 2020 -Womens Contemporary Art Winner Online Show 2020 placed -Safewood Show 2020 -MIA Foot in the door 2020 -Walker Art Center piece named “Glass” included in a traveling Covid Exhibit 2021 -ArtReach St Croix exhibit 2020 -Showing with the Saints 2020, 2022-Virtual Makers Event 2020
Private Commissions
-244 Commissions over 7years
- 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Publications
-City Pages 2020
-Owatonna Paper 2021
-Voyage Magazine 2022
-Canvas Rebel 2022
Grants
-14 grants received over 3 years
-Springboard for the arts Mental Health 2020 -Springboard for the arts Diversity Awareness 2020 -Springboard rescue Grant 2020 -Minnesota State Arts Board 2021,2022-Community Covid Grant 2020 -VAF Grant 2020 -Private Foundation Grant 2020 -Artists Rescue Trust 3 month Grant 2020 -Fiscally Sponsored artist with Fractured Atlas 2020, 2021,2022 -Artist Relief Grant 2020-Springboard Growth Fund 2022