Kenny Kelley is an acrylic painter and multimedia installation artist living and working in Louisville, Kentucky. Through their work, Kelley communicates universal human truths through the visual retelling of personal narratives, whether it be their own or someone else’s. In their paintings, they often use animals to symbolize the characters within the story they are telling. For example, whenever Kelley is referring to themselves in their paintings, they utilize the imagery of a rabbit to act as an ironic lens from which they can view their own life and experiences. In their installation work, Kelley creates freestanding works composed from a variety of found or repurposed objects. Kelley’s current focus with their installation work is telling the story of those who face stigma due to their struggles with substance use.
