Photo by Natalie Sinisgalli

Hi, call me Kelly.

Art has always been my point of connection. Where and when words inevitably fail me, it has helped me care for others. As a child I was constantly crafting and creating in my small world; little offerings of gratitude, tender tokens of affection, or manifestations of my joy. Making anything from scratch requires patience and thoroughness and sometimes a little bit of magic, and I thrive in that space between wanting to create from the ground up, and learning a new skill. As a mom of three, It is wonderful to witness my children discover their own methods of creating and expressing themselves from their wild and curious and uninhibited hearts. 

After a decade of working on private commissions, I feel more passionately called to illustrate children’s books. I like to believe that my illustrations offer a connectedness between humanity and the natural world, and a kinship with each other. We can all inhabit this world a little easier when we are seen, understood, represented, and appreciated as our truest selves. I dream that my work exists in the service of others, and that it continues to be a reflection of my being; a well-rounded story about a life well-savored.

hello@kelly-place.com

585.6twotwo.6737