Kelly Schnurr | Multidisciplinary Artist in Buffalo, New York
Bio
Kelly Schnurr is a multidisciplinary artist and mother of two living in Buffalo, NY. She merges her design background with fine art practices to celebrate the process of discovery and self-growth; using nature as her source of inspiration. After graduating from SUNY Fredonia with a BFA in Graphic Design, she spent 10 years living and working in NYC where she started her business, GreenBird Design Inc. In 2016, with her growing family, she moved back home to Buffalo. Kelly is a studio artist at Buffalo Arts Studio, an Exhibiting member of the Buffalo Society of Artists, and was a Hunt Gallery Resident Artist (cohort 5). Her work has been exhibited at Var Gallery in Milwuakee, WI, The Lockwood Gallery in Kingston, NY, Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Cass Gallery, River Gallery, Hallwalls, The Crucible Art Collective, Hunt Art Gallery, and Buffalo Arts Studio. A collection of greeting cards, small works on paper, and fine-art prints are available at Buffalo ShopCraft and you can find Kelly at markets such as AVA Collective Pop-ups, Jack Craft, and Lewiston Art Festival.
Artist Statement
Somewhat autobiographical, I hint at escapism through my use of color, texture, and layers of material. Creating portals of fantastical landscapes and references to natural patterns, I work both intuitively and extremely deliberately as I weave in and out of memory, distraction, and life’s interruptions. Material exploration is central to my process, where seasonal rhythms shape my use of traditional mediums like gouache and watercolor alongside foraged objects, paper clay, embroidery, and repurposed fibers. Motherhood has reignited my sense of play, influencing themes of maternal lineage, memory, and place in my work. Over the past five years, daily art challenges have helped me embrace quick decisions and playful exploration. Collage became a key technique, allowing me to create within the time constraints of family life. In this season of active parenting, the complexities of my mental load often echo in the layers of my work, reflecting my inner dialogue and the delicate balance of caring for others while navigating personal needs.