Artworks by Tara Kelley-Cruz

Tara Kelley-Cruz’s work relies heavily on form, color and texture and deals with the question of what things in our history shape who we are as individuals and as a culture. Other themes in her work are journeying, hope, and seeking spiritual direction.

With a background in Printmaking and Graphic Design, Tara’s work feels graphical and hints at a love of typography.

As a mixed-media painter, Tara’s process includes layering paint, found ephemera, image transfers and drawings. After layering, Tara begins to sand. Earlier layers of the painting become revealed and the work begins to take on a life of its own with its own history. This is symbolic for her of our own history and what thoughts, beliefs, messages and marks have been made on us that have shaped who we are.

Tara was born in Amarillo, Texas and currently lives and works in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Brigham Young University.

She has taken part in several solo exhibitions, with two solo shows planned for 2020. Her work has been part of many group exhibitions, and has been curated into a museum show in Dallas as part of the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts.