Kelsey Montague

Kelsey Montague
Born1985
NationalityAmerican
OccupationMuralist

Kelsey Montague (born 1985) is an American illustrator, interactive street artist, and founder of the #WhatLiftsYou social media project. She is best known for her large-scale, interactive street murals that often feature wings and social media intersect.[1][2][3][4]

Biography

Born in Colorado, Montague has lived in Florence, where she studied art, London, New York City,[5] and Los Angeles. She has studied art, design, and media (with combined studies) at Richmond, The American International University in London.[6]

She founded the #WhatLiftsYou Campaign with a purpose of inspiring people around the world to become "living works of art" while considering what most inspires them in their lives.[7][8] Her work includes murals for Parkland shooting survivors[9] and for the NFL, where she created a mural for the two final Super Bowl teams.[10]

Montague has published two adult coloring books,[11] and partnered with S'well and Starbucks to create a limited edition series of four bottles.[12]

Murals

Kelsey Montague's murals invite spectators to stop and step into her whimsical creations to answer the question #WhatLiftsYou.[13]

A list of the murals completed by Kelsey Montague:

  • A Growing Meadow (2018)[9]
  • Super Bowl (2020) two pieces created at the request of the NFL to engage fans. Montague was the only female muralist commissioned.[10]
  • Universal Studios CityWalk, LA (2017)[14]
  • The Cleo, East Nashville (2018)[15]
  • Wroclaw, Poland (2017)[16]
  • (RED) Room (2017), featuring a rock and roll mural created by Montague for the (RED) Room designed by Johnathan Adler at Andaz West Hollywood. 30% of the sales from this room go to support the (RED) campaign.[17]
  • Wynwood Walls (2019) was created for a Wynwood Walls 10 year anniversary event for the class of 2019.
  • Angels in America (2018) was created for the Broadway revival of Angels in America.[18]
  • United Airlines (2015, 2020), featuring a mural and video created for UA's charitable partner "Peruvian Hearts".[19]
  • Nordstrom and Pop Sugar, Palm Springs (2017), a series of balloons created on a movable wall for influencers to interact with at a Coachella Music Festival-inspired event.
  • ME, Taylor Swift (2019), was created for the launch of Taylor Swift's single "Me!"[20][21]
  • East Tennessee State University's (ETSU) is the fourth mural she has painted for a college and the first in the South[22]

Publications

  • Montague, Kelsey (2016). What Lifts You. Harlequin Adult Coloring Books, ISBN 978-0373099993
  • Montague, Kelsey (2016). What Lifts Your Heart. Harlequin Adult Coloring Books, ISBN 978-0373135448

References

  1. ^ "Meet the Team". Kelsey Montague Art. January 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "In all she does: positivity". East Tennessee State University. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "Artist Kelsey Montague unveils new mural in Corona". Press Enterprise. June 12, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  4. ^ Hallenbeck, Brian. "Street artist spreads 'Wings' at Foxwoods". www.theday.com. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  5. ^ "Perhaps a Pose with a Panda? | Smithsonian American Art Museum". americanart.si.edu. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "#WhatLiftsYou, a global street art phenom, lands in Dubai". fridaymagazine.ae. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "What Lifts You: International Mural Artist Creates First-Ever Tactile Art Installation for Anchor Center - Anchor Center For Blind Children". anchorcenter.org. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "How street artist Kelsey Montague found 'courage and a voice' in a male-dominated field". MSNBC.com. October 9, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  9. ^ a b America, Good Morning, Street artist paints murals to honor the Parkland school shooting victims, retrieved March 18, 2020
  10. ^ a b Treaster, Joseph B. (January 29, 2020). "The Super Bowl Is the Biggest Art Show in Miami Right Now". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  11. ^ "See the cover and a sample page from new coloring book 'What Lifts You?' — exclusive". EW.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  12. ^ Harrison, Olivia. "Starbucks Just Released A Collection Of Limited Edition S'well Bottles". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  13. ^ Staff, SmartGirls (September 28, 2016). "Kelsey Montague: Street Artist Asks #WhatLiftsYou". Medium.
  14. ^ "Kelsey Montague Wing Mural Unveiled at Universal CityWalk". MUSE. May 25, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  15. ^ "Nashville's 35 Best and Most Iconic Murals". Nashville Go. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  16. ^ Leśnik, Maciej (October 15, 2017). "Najciekawsze murale poza centrum Wrocławia [ZDJĘCIA, MAPA]". archiwum Wroclife.pl (in Polish). Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  17. ^ "A First Look at Andaz West Hollywood's New Jonathan Adler–Designed (RED) Suite (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. March 9, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  18. ^ "There's a brand-new mural of angel wings to pose with on Broadway". timeout.com. March 23, 2018.
  19. ^ Raven, Robin. "Discover The Peruvian Hearts Mural In Cusco, Peru That's Inspiring Visitors From Around The World". Forbes. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  20. ^ "The Artist Behind Taylor Swift's Butterfly Wings Has Murals Across the U.S.: Where to Find Them". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  21. ^ "Taylor Swift Releases 'Me!,' a New Song Featuring Brendon Urie". The NY Times. April 26, 2019.
  22. ^ "Kelsey Montague Mural at ETSU". East Tennessee State University. Retrieved November 15, 2024.