Arts Directory

About

Artist Bio

KELA is a multimedia artist integrating nature-based analogue photography and woodworking, creating works that inspire reflection, purpose, and meaningfulness by drawing inspiration from the natural world. She is a two-time grant recipient through the South Carolina Arts Commission receiving the Emerging Artist Grant (2021) and Emerging Artist Alumni Grant (2025). KELA is a studio artist at Redux Contemporary Art Center, and has permanent collections of artwork in the Main Hospital and Wellness Center of MUSC. She is a community leader and supporter of emerging artists.

KELA exclusively shoots on an analogue camera, cultivating fine art on 35mm and 120 film. KELA’s first solo exhibition ‘Liberation of Harmony: Reimagining Analogue Photography’ exhibited at 713 Studios in Columbia, SC curated by Tabitha Ott in 2023. Her experience in photography extends from operating as a creative director to curating creative photo experiences for artists and professionals, capturing a more personal, unique and liberated side of her subjects.

While KELA did not study art in her higher education, she began her studies at Fairfax High Visual Arts Magnet School in Los Angeles, CA, leaning into the experience as an analogue photographer and mastering the darkroom. She furthered her education, graduating from Temple University in Spring 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, aligning with her purpose to connect the whole self to our environments, our presence, and others while being inspired through art and the present moment. She graduated from the Community Business Academy with Good Enterprises in Fall 2024.

Artist Statement

Analogue photography and woodworking allow me to embrace a more intentional creative process, where each frame on film and each crafted piece of wood are deliberate, mindful expressions. My commitment to these media is rooted in my deep connection to nature and the outdoors, aligning with my joy in appreciating the often-unnoticed beauty in everyday life. My style as a photographer focuses on maximizing on minimalism with an emphasis on natural color captured in the original shot.

It is my mission to inspire others to step into their own authentic freedom to growing emotionally, spiritually, and relationally toward liberation and harmony in their own journeys. My intention is to awaken a deeper sense of purpose, authenticity, and appreciation for what takes place within and around us. Through my work, I look to aid in unlocking an intrinsic transformation in others, encouraging them to connect more profoundly with themselves and the natural beauty that surrounds them.

As a slow shooter, whether a landscape or portrait, it may take me 2-5 minutes to capture one image to be sure of the composition and message worthy of being shot. By printing in large scale, my images invite the viewer into the space as if they were there in the moment when the image was captured. It is important to not only closely experience the intricate details, but to also become immersed into what brings you into a more mindful, reflective, and transformative experience.