Shirley Kelley: Visual Artist

Shirley Kelley grew up in Montana, surrounded by mountains and grasses. When she moved out to Naples, Florida, it was a huge change for her - but a welcomed one. Being surrounded by tropical plants served as new inspiration for her artwork. 

“I think the introduction of being able to go to the Everglades whenever you want, to visit the botanical gardens whenever you want…that's very inspiring.”

Both art and plants have been a constant anchor in Shirley’s life, through the good times and the bad. The memories of helping her father in their greenhouse are always with her as she’s creating. 

Shirley’s mind is always on art, searching for inspiration in every leaf or petal that she sees.  

“Even if [artists are] not working at the time. They're thinking about it, they're looking, they're planning, and then they'll use some of those thoughts or inspirations later.”

A film by Jacopo Fantastichini.