Artist Profile: Kelly Meiners

Kelly Meiners

12807 Pembroke Circle
Leawood, KS 66209

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Bio:

Kelly Meiners, PhD is an intuitive abstract expressionist painter whose work emerges from the depths of profound loss, resilience, and the search for beauty in adversity. Formerly a tenured associate professor and Chair of the Physical Therapy and Exercise Science Department, Meiners’ life was irrevocably altered after a COVID infection in 2021 left her both physically and cognitively disabled. Multi-organ damage, including severe brain, heart, lung, pancreas, vascular, and immune system impairment, rendered her homebound and bedridden for over three years. At times, she endured complete isolation in darkened rooms due to extreme photophobia, and 3.5 years later, still relies on caregivers for daily needs. In 2022, amidst immense physical and cognitive limitations—including seizures triggered by exertion—Meiners began painting, sometimes managing only a single brushstroke a week. Her first piece, Groundhog Day, was created using only acrylic paint and a shower squeegee, an adaptation to accommodate her tremors and loss of hand coordination. Despite these challenges, she found solace and strength in the act of creation, drawn to the potential beauty of a blank canvas. Working primarily with acrylics while lying on the floor beside her canvases, Meiners channels grief, isolation, and fleeting moments of joy into her work. Her art serves as both a personal narrative and a testament to the experiences of those disabled by a highly politicized and still-unknown disease. In 2024, she began exhibiting her paintings, participating in 16 group shows and two solo exhibitions. With verbal and written communication often impossible, Meiners continues to tell her story through art, offering a powerful, visual expression of resilience, loss, and the transformative power of creativity. www.kellymeiners.art