Arts Directory

About

Artist Bio

Kenish is a multidisciplinary artist working in oil paint, drawing, traditional and digital illustration, and large-scale murals. Her work explores identity, culture, and lived experience through rich color, layered symbolism, and narrative storytelling. Rooted in her experiences as a Black woman raised in the South, her work amplifies perspectives that are often overlooked while inviting a broad audience to reflect, connect, and engage in meaningful dialogue. Kenish has exhibited nationally and internationally. She holds a BA from Claflin University and an MFA from Howard University. She is also an experienced art educator with nearly a decade of teaching practice spanning middle school, high school, and college aged students.

Artist Statement

I see artists as historians that document the truth, struggle, and beauty of their era and generation. My work is rooted in storytelling, drawing from personal experience, culture, and the complexities of shared identity. I create work that forces introspection as well as dialogue. Blending realism, surrealism, and symbolism, my work is designed to be both visually compelling and conceptually layered. My artistic practice acts as a living diary and document that I happily share with the world. My mural practice extends this ideology into public spaces, transforming walls and creating shared experiences that reflect and speak to the communities around them. I thoroughly enjoy creating large-scale murals that capture the vision and voice of a given organization, community or public space. My teaching practice focuses on both education in the traditional sense and education in the sense of “what can this person take with them to aid in their growth as a human being?” I create inclusive, engaging spaces where participants feel empowered to take creative risks and develop their own voice. My workshops are designed to be accessible to all experience levels while encouraging critical thinking, collaboration, and personal expression.

Teaching Artistry Details

Teaching Artist Statement

My work as a teaching artist is significantly informed by my practice as a working visual artist and my experience as an art educator. I find that one often beautifully assists the other. I approach teaching as an extension of my studio practice, emphasizing process, problem solving, storytelling and the importance of being an “artist-scholar.” Whether working with adolescents or adults, I prioritize creating a supportive environment where participants feel empowered to take creative risks and develop confidence in their own voice.

Description of Offerings

I offer project-based visual art workshops and residences that focus on storytelling, collaboration, and creative skill-building. My offerings include portable community mural projects on freestanding panels, illustration and visual storytelling residences, beginner friendly oil painting instruction that demonstrates materials and techniques (fumeless oils are utilized), paint-&-sip team building events and more.

Experienced with the following age groups

• 6th-8th grade
• 9th-12th grade
• Higher Education
• Adults
• Creative Aging (Adults 60+)

Materials Provided to School or Organizations by Teaching Artist

I provide structured lesson plans, visual references, and demonstrations. Materials may be provided by the organization or included in the project budget as needed.

Physical and Technical Requirements of a School or Organization

An indoor space suitable for art-making (classroom, art room, or multipurpose space) with tables is required. Access to water for cleanup is preferred. For mural projects, adequate space for setup is needed. The space should be well-lit, ventilated and able to accommodate basic art materials and creative movement.