Kelly Grace is an established artist known for her evocative and compelling paintings and drawings depicting cinematic inspired scenes and subject matter. Beautifully executed in a signature style developed through her unique combination of acrylic paint layers, Grace's paintings are populated with glamorous film noir heroines and other characters that seem to belong to a bygone era. Often using herself as well as friends and models as subjects, Grace carefully stages and photographs her own reference imagery, using curated vintage props and even styling each model’s vintage hairdo herself. Through her practice, Grace's principle objective is that of visual storytelling, coupled with a desire to explore nostalgia and personal memory. The results are intriguing film narrative works that depict only a piece of a larger story, one that the viewer can write for themselves.
Grace grew up amidst the quiet beauty of the countryside of Stouffville, Ontario. Now living in the vibrant energy of the city of Toronto where her studio practice is thriving. With roots steeped in a creative family of makers, art has always been a part of her world. With this deep-rooted connection to the arts she blends her rural roots with urban influences to channel her love of storytelling into cinema-inspired paintings that blend nostalgia with a modern edge.