Kelly E Marra

Kelly E. Marra, (b. 1977, Texas)

Currently living and working in McKinney, Texas

kellyemarra@sbcglobal.net | www.KellyEMarra.com | www.KellyEMarra.etsy.com

www.RockThePepRally.etsy.com | www.shopvida.com/collections/kelly-e-marra

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-marra-a76baa133

www.instagram.com/kelly_e_marra

Kelly E. Marra is an artist who utilizes a variety of mediums in her work.  Her mixed media pieces exploit the versatility of acrylic paints and create unexpected unions.  She has a B.F.A. in Studio Art - Drawing and Painting from The University of North Texas.

 

Education
Studied under:

Rob Erdle at UNT

Chris Tinnen at Collin College

 

Exhibition

2020   UNT Drawing and Painting BFA Show, Social Distance Gallery, Virtual

2020   Music in Motion at The Cove, McKinney, TX

2020   A Belly Dance Installation at The Cove, McKinney, TX

2020   My Favorite Things - Solo Show at The Cove, McKinney, TX

2020   Spring Cleaning Art Sale at The Cove, McKinney, TX

2019   Unique by Nature, McKinney, TX

2019   Inversion - Solo Show at The Cove, McKinney, TX

2019   Figure Drawing & Painting Show, UNT CVAD, Denton, TX

2018   Artful Healing - Joint Show with Artist Carol Collins, The Cove, McKinney, TX

2017   A Happening at The Cove, McKinney, TX

2017   I Am Woman - Hear Me Roar!, TVAA Downtown Gallery, Dallas, TX

2017   Free as a Bird - Solo Show at The Cove, McKinney, TX

2016   Rhythms of Pen and Brush Poetry Symposium, McKinney, TX

2016   Roy & Helen Hall Memorial Library, McKinney, TX 

2016   Unique By Nature, McKinney, TX

2016   Words With A View, TVAA Downtown Gallery, Dallas, TX

2016   52nd Annual Collin County Adult Art Show, McKinney, TX

2015   Rhythms of Pen and Brush Poetry Symposium with Richard Blanco, McKinney, TX

2015   Artrageous 2015 Art Show, Frisco, TX

2015   Best of the Best Bellydance Competition – Vendor – Allen, TX

2015   Arts in Bloom, McKinney, TX

2015   Unique By Nature, McKinney, TX

2015   51st Annual Collin County Adult Art Show, McKinney, TX

2014   MAST – McKinney Artist Studio Tour – Art Club of McKinney’s 100th Anniversary

2014   Unique By Nature, McKinney, TX

2014   50th Annual Collin County Adult Art Show, McKinney, TX

2004   Bonham State Bank – Creative Arts Center –July - Artist of the Month

2004   Creative Arts Center, Bonham, TX

2003   Creative Arts Center, Bonham, TX

 

Bibliography

Coming Soon – A book of some of Richard Blanco’s Poetry and the Art it inspired, from the 2015 Rhythms of Pen and Brush Poetry Symposium with Richard Blanco in McKinney, TX.

JewelryMakingJournal.com

http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/developing-defining-your-own-jewelry-design-style-video/

http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/artists-mistake-or-customers-treasure-video/

Chosen to compete in Michael’s web series - Craft Masters -1st  webisode – Mixed Media

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEeYNWSY3nA

Article in North Texas E-News – Artist of the Month – July 2004

http://www.ntxe-news.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=7&num=17895

 

Collections

 

Paintings

Private Collection, Allen, TX

Private Collection, Hainesport, NJ

Private Collection, Black Mountain, NC

Private Collection, Friendswood, TX

Private Collection, Lake Zurich, IL

Private Collection, Bonham, TX

Private Collection, Frisco, TX

Private Collection, Little Elm, TX

Private Collection, McKinney, TX

 

Jewelry Design

In 2005, Kelly E. Marra, started Bada Bling – Jewelry & More for the Diva in You!!!  She has had her work in several boutiques in Texas and a gallery in Angel Fire, New Mexico.  She has two shops online, www.KellyEMarra.etsy.com & www.RockThePepRally.etsy.com , and collectors throughout the United States and abroad.

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Galleries & Membership

2016 – 2020  The Cove, McKinney, TX - http://thecovemckinney.com/

2014 – 2020  Arts & Music Guild, McKinney, TX - http://artsandmusicguild.com/

2013 – 2016  The Art Club of McKinney, 2015 – 2016 Board, McKinney, TX - http://www.theartclubmckinney.com/

 

Curating

2020   A Belly Dance Installation at The Cove, McKinney, TX  

2020   My Favorite Things - Solo Show, The Cove, McKinney, TX

2019   Inversion - Solo Show, The Cove, McKinney, TX

2018   Artful Healing - Joint Show with Artist Carol Collins, The Cove, McKinney TX

2017   I Am Woman - Hear Me Roar!, TVAA Downtown Gallery, Dallas, TX

2017   Free as a Bird - Solo Show, The Cove, McKinney, TX

 

Teaching

2011 - 2016, Dallas Museum of Art's Go Van Gogh volunteer at Valley Creek Elementary, McKinney, TX

2003 - 2004, Drawing and Painting, Creative Arts Center, Bonham, TX

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Judging

2016 – Juror at the VASE (Visual Arts Scholastic Event) Competition at Rowlett High School sponsored by the TAEA (Texas Art Education Association).

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Artist Statement

 

Kelly E. Marra

 

As a child, the renderings of authors and illustrators, such as Richard Scarry and Dr. Seuss, encouraged an innate desire to draw and create art.  This passion drives me to explore diverse mediums and art forms through continual study and practice. 

 

After studying the Impressionists intensely, I found their struggles and desires most relatable.  In reflection, my current work focuses on capturing moments that speak to my soul – the vulnerability of a performer’s debut, the thrill of an impromptu performance or an extraordinary sunset – while experimenting with brushwork, and the boundaries of my medium’s accepted limits.