Artist Bio & Statement
Kelly E. (Collins) Marra, (b. 1977, Texas)
Currently living and working in McKinney, Texas
kellyemarra@sbcglobal.net | www.KellyEMarra.com | Kelly on LinkedIn | Instagram | Vida
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. She will earn a Master of Science in Learning Technologies at UNT in December 2022.
Skills
Instructional Design, Graphic Design, Painting, Drawing, Sketching, Curating, Jurying, Teaching, Relief Printing, Mokuhanga, Sculpting, Polymer Clay, Crochet, Sewing, Soldering, Radial Arm Saw, Miter Saw, Drill Press, Circular Saw, Jig Saw, Sander, Dremel, Dremel Engraver, Digital Photography, and Editing
Beginning knowledge of Autocad and Rhino
Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop, After Effects, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and Acrobat
Microsoft Office - Word, Power Point, and Excel
Google Workplace - Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Corel PaintShop Pro
Windows, Mac, and beginning knowledge of Linux and Networking with Cisco
LMSs - Canvas, Thinkific
Prezi, Canva, Genially, Flip, Doodly, OBS, Hit Film Express
Wix
Education
Studied under:
B.F.A. UNT
Studied Watercolor under Rob Erdle
Studied Figure under Jay Bailey and Christian Fagerlund
Studied Printmaking and Mokuhanga under Kazuko Goto
Collin College
Studied Metals under Chris Tinnen
Exhibition
2022 Music in Motion at The Cove, McKinney, TX
2022 Glow Show - Solo Show at The Cove, McKinney, TX
2021 MAST– McKinney Artist Studio Tour at The Cove, McKinney, TX
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
JewelryMakingJournal.com
Developing and Defining Your Own Jewelry Design Style
Artist's Mistake or Customer's Treasure
Chosen to compete in Michael’s web series - Craft Masters -1st webisode – Mixed Media
Article in North Texas E-News – Artist of the Month – July 2004
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 had two shops online, www.KellyEMarra.etsy.com & www.RockThePepRally.etsy.com , and collectors throughout the United States and abroad! She has taken a break from Etsy to pursue her education.
Galleries & Membership
2016 – 2022 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
2022 Glow Show at The Cove, McKinney, TX
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
Jurying
2016 – Juror at the VASE (Visual Arts Scholastic Event) Competition at Rowlett High School sponsored by the TAEA (Texas Art Education Association).
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. I love learning!
After studying the Impressionists intensely, I found their struggles and desires most relatable. In reflection, some of my 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. My current work has been process focused and more abstract in nature.