Biography

Queenstown-based artist Kelly Pearce was born and raised in Dunedin. (1973) A short time living in North Otago in the late 90s followed, then farming with her family in Western Southland until the present.

For the last few years, Kelly has spent the majority of her time living and working in the Queenstown area.

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Working mainly in oil using contemporary techniques, Kelly is interested in the way a landscape feels, how mood can be transformed by the visual and the way our brains

interpret colour and light. Kelly’s work has been described as being ‘uplifting’, this is perhaps a reflection of her own response to time spent outdoors, which she finds a balm to life’s troubles.

Landscapes are often imagined, simplified, and sometimes more literal, -reminding the viewer of someplace, sometime they feel connected with, without being directive.

Kelly now divides her time between her Western Southland farm studio and her Queenstown home. Farming close to Fiordland, often on the road, and working on the

snow in the Queenstown mountains, gives her endless visual material.

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Recent acknowledgements:

• Guest Artist |Craigs Aspiring Art Awards 2024

• Best Landscape |Craigs Aspiring Art Awards Wanaka 2023

• Art200 Award |Wanaka Arts Labour Weekend Exhibition 2023

• Supreme Award |Queenstown Art Centre Awards 2020

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