Desiree Kelly created this hand painted mural in Detroit of Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin for the RESPECT MOVIE (image provided by artist) >> The Detroit News
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ABOUT ME
Desiree Kelly is an award winning artist and a Detroit native. Known as Detroit’s premiere Portrait artist and muralist who's work features historical and public figures. She was introduced to oil painting while studying Graphic Design at Wayne State University. Raised on the Eastside, she became inspired by the environment and developed a style of storytelling through portraits. Her portraits of public icons are historically immersive & reflect on the narrative of her subjects by including artifacts & phrases within each piece. She is known for her distinctive style of painting which is mixture of “street art” & traditional oil technique.
She was resident artist in cycle 5 of Red Bull House of Art (now RedBull Arts) when she created "Abe in Shades". A portrait of 16th president Abraham Lincoln cropped face wearing kaleidoscope sunglasses.
Her work has granted partnerships with PEPSI, Detroit Pistons, Atwater Brewery as well as having created a hand painted billboard for the MGM movie "RESPECT" depicting Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin.
In 2019, she was named by Crain's Detroit Business as a "Twenty in their 20's" honoree, which highlights outstanding young leaders in business. Subsequently making her the first Visual Artist (Painter) in history named to the list. Her work can be experienced and seen all over metro Detroit in permanent and temporary public collections like the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building, Kuzzo's Chicken & Waffles, Eastern Market & the historical Alger Theater in Detroit.
She has been commissioned by a number of private collections and public corporations which include: The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Pandora (jewelry), Detroit Pistons, Meijer, Converse, Jack Daniels, Kroger (stores), City of Royal Oak(MI), Beaumont Health, Carhartt, FootLocker, PUMA and more!
EXHIBITIONS
PUBLICATIONS
Then & Now: A Retrospective of Portraits
exhibition on view DEC 2019-March 2020 at Detroit Public Library (read more)
Washington Post, Insider, Crain's Detroit Business, The Michigan Chronicle, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, RollingOut, BLAC, Detroit Home, HOUR, MLive, MetroTimes, Gander, CBS Detroit, Deadline Detroit
GALLERY
Take a look at my portfolio of art! Click view more to see entire catalog or SHOP for prints of selected works
CORPORATE PROJECTS & MURALS
Not limited by canvas; my work has been used to collaborate with corporate and commercial campaigns. Providing a unique way to visually capture the audience and convey a message. My murals are personalized for your organization, creating an experience that is vibrant, full of energy and incomparable. I have collaborated with PEPSI, Converse, FootLocker, Beaumont Hospitals, VH1 Black Ink Chicago, DMC Sanai Grace Hospital , Atwater Brewery and the studios of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. No project is too big or too small!
Contact me to discuss your a potential project and let me bring your ideas to LIFE!
CUSTOM PORTRAIT SERVICES
Creating a portrait for yourself or someone important in your life is an incredibly personal experience. Capture that moment in time that will last for 100's of years. Not only to be celebrated in life but to leave a legacy for family and friends. An oil painted portrait is something that has been a long standing tradition that traces back as early as the twelfth century. Oil painting is also perhaps the most dominant and popular art medium used in the history of art.
Let me create your MASTERPIECE! I can create a one-of-kind painting from ANY photo in my unique style. Most of my work uses a combination of oil paint, spray paint and collage. This allows me to not only depict the subject but to tell their story. My historically immersive style allows milestones, statistics and accomplishments to be included within a piece of art.
"I have been commissioned by anyone from
A-list celebrities to first time art buyers."
A custom oil portrait is the best way to preserve your memories in a unique way.
*As a rule, I do not share your painting with the world. I respect the privacy of my collectors and clients.
I will not post commissions to my website or social media unless granted special permission.