Tara Kelley-Cruz - Mixed Nuts

Mixed Nuts, by Tara Kelley-Cruz, considers the human family and our connectedness, separation, identity, and relationships within that family. In this series, for the first time in her work, she has incorporated renaissance and editorial portraiture to symbolize humanity and to aid in expressing themes of connection and identity.

Tara Kelley-Cruz’s work relies heavily on form, color, and discernment. She uses saturated and unsaturated color as well as composition and line-work to communicate emotion, imbalance, and other thoughts. Kelley-Cruz believes whole-heartedly in experimentation as a form of discovery in her artwork. Her painting practice relies on her discernment in responding to the painted surface to ultimately create something unique and very personal to her.