Kelly Kruse (b. 1985, Iowa) uses her work to explore the painful, beautiful experience of human transience, longing, and suffering. In response to her battle with depression, she developed a visual contemplative practice through which she wrestles with the complexities of faith and theology. Kruse describes her work as contemporary illumination. Like historic artists who perfected the art of illuminated manuscripts, she seeks to cultivate the inner world of those who engage her work. Her first exposure to the idea of illumination came when she studied Medieval and Renaissance music in Italy. Her background in classical music and opera puts her in a unique position to explore the intersections between scripture, poetry, musical works, and the visual arts.

She has exhibited her work at galleries and institutions across the country and her work is featured in collections around the world. Recently, she completed her first public commission after winning a nationwide competition at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Paul, Minnesota. The commission is installed permanently at the Iversen Center for Faith and explores the complexity of the immortal human soul as inspired by the writings of the apostle Paul. 

Kelly lives and works in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is Curator of the Four Chapter Gallery and maintains an active private voice studio.

CURRICULUM VITAE

SOLO

​​2022 2021 2020  2019 2018 2017

MUSEUM + INSTITUTIONAL

2023 2020​​ 2018​

GROUP

2024
  • "Evidence of Joy" - Intersect Arts Center, St. Louis - curated by April Parviz
  • "Seven" - John P. Monahan Gallery, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN - curated by Marria Thompson (with artists Jaida Grey Eagle, Mary Griep, Tia Keobounpheng, Sarah Nelson, Mikayla Patton, and Bobby Rogers with Dannielle Tegeder)​

2023
  • "Hidden & Revealed" - Christ Community Church, Leawood - curated by Kelli Sallman and Randy Bonifield

​2020
  • "Beauty from Ashes"- Kairos Gallery - St. Andrews Anglican Church - Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina (with artists Bruce Herman, Sandra Bowden, Edward Knippers, Grace Carol Bomer, Glenn Howell, and Amelia Whaley)

2019
  • "To Flourish"- THE SHEMA - Four Chapter Gallery - Kansas City, MO (juried exhibit - second prize)
  • "Pure Joy" - Genesis 1:1 Arts - Kansas City, MO (invitational exhibit)

2017
2016
  • "Set Apart" - Calvary Chapel Gallery - Kansas City, MO (invitational exhibit)

2015
  • Kansas City Artists Coalition - "Public Hanging"
  • TRA Art Show, BWAC -Brooklyn, NY (juried exhibit)
  • "Beauty" - Meridian Street Gallery - Indianapolis (curated exhibit)​

COLLECTIONS

The University of St. Thomas (seven works) - St. Paul, MN
St. Andrews Anglican (one work) - Mt. Pleasant, SC
The Basilica of St. Mary (two works) - Minneapolis, MN
Redeemer Kansas City (sixteen works) - Kansas City, MO
Briarcliff Church (six works) - North Kansas City, MO
DEMDACO
Christ Community Permanent Collection (forthcoming 2025, one work)
Concordia University Lincoln (forthcoming 2025, four works)

CURATORIAL

2021 - present
Curator of the Four Chapter Gallery
  • ​I work with various artists and organizations to curate 5-6 exhibits per year and have done so since October 2021
    ​
​Selected exhibits:

WRITING, SPEAKING, AND TEACHING

2023, Seeing the Word: an introduction to illumination - Christ Community 
2022, O Mirabile Mysterium - 110 page book with images of paintings and meditations inspired by Genesis 1
2021, Eternity in Our Heart (Essay) - Ekstasis Magazine/Christianity Today
2021, Ecclesiastes through Art - 3-hour seminar on Ecclesiastes facilitated by the exhibit, "Geheimnis" at Christ Community Church in downtown Kansas City
2020, Geheimnis, Illuminating the Book of Ecclesiastes: searching for meaning in a world that passes away - art book containing fifteen essays on mystery, mortality, and glory

PRESS & PRINT
2025 - Vita Poetica, Visual Artist Award Winner & feature in fifth anniversary print edition
2022 - On Earth (cover art), Susan Delaney Spear, Wipf & Stock Publishers
2022 - Collected Magazine (Spring 2022 issue; feature interview)
2021 - Comment Magazine (Fall 2021 issue, featured cover artist)
2021 - Gather Magazine (June issue, featured cover artist)
2021 - The University of St. Thomas - interview about the Iversen Center for Faith Commission
2020 - Independence Examiner cover story

EDUCATION

2011 - MM Voice (Magna Cum Laude), Opera Studies - Indiana University 
2008 - BM Voice (Summa Cum Laude) - Iowa State University
2004 - Renaissance Studies program - British Institute of Florence, Italy
All artwork, photographs, and text on this site are copyright © Kelly Kruse, 2014-2025. No images, artwork, or content may be used without express permission from the artist. All rights reserved.