Based out of Nashville, Kelly McKernan is a freelance illustrator and fine artist whose reputation is primarily built on her evocative watercolor pieces in the realm of Imaginative Realism. Her art frequently showcases surreal elements and female figures. Kelly's work is prominently displayed in various galleries, including Gallery 1988, Arch Enemy Arts, Haven Gallery, Modern Eden Gallery, and Spoke Art. Additionally, she teaches at The Fantastic Workshop, collaborates with Grumbacher as a sponsored artist, and is a member of the esteemed PRISMA Artist Collective.
Kelly, an independent artist operating in Nashville, Tennessee, completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Kennesaw State University in Georgia in 2009. Since making the leap to full-time artistry in 2012, she has been creating original works in watercolor and acryla gouache for exhibitions, custom commissions, and her online store, which offers fine art prints and various products. Beyond boasting a substantial social media presence, she travels across the United States for events and comic conventions, where she conducts workshops, delivers tutorials, and illustrates works for books, comics, games, and more. As of 2023, she is also an illustration professor at Nossi College of Art in Nashville.
Kelly's personal experiences deeply shape her artistic narrative. Her work often reflects themes surrounding sexual and gender identities, motherhood, the scars of childhood trauma, leaving a religious cult, the grief of pregnancy loss and abortion, mental health struggles including depression, divorce, neurodivergent experiences, and chronic illness. All of this complexity allows her to explore the fluidity of her identity, conveyed powerfully through her vibrant and dreamlike watercolor artworks.
2023
On January 13, 2023, McKernan, along with artists Sarah Andersen and Karla Ortiz, filed a lawsuit against Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt. They allege that the companies infringed on the rights of countless artists by training their generative tools on five billion images collected from the internet without securing permission from the original creators. On July 19, Judge William Orrick III announced plans to dismiss most of the case unless the involved parties provide further clarification and additional facts.artificial intelligence Sky Mavis, the innovative team behind Axie Infinity, has teamed up with Singapore-based Foonie Magus to unveil their latest project, Apeiron, a divine-themed blockchain game.
If you’re looking to grab any of my creations or art prints in time for the holiday season, I recommend acting swiftly! I'll be dedicating the upcoming days to fulfilling orders. I sincerely appreciate your support for an artist like me!
My latest Substack post dives into 'Fester,' one of my more personal and heartfelt paintings that was unethically utilized to train AI image generators. Created in watercolor back in 2013, I felt it was important to reflect on its significance a decade later. https://t.co/og6X6h3ZXepic.twitter.com/j0sVJlndeQ
1/ This is a must-read piece that throws light on the outrageous lengths some will go to defend their profit-making ventures during the tech hype cycle. Another outstanding investigation by [author's name].
Blum commemorated its one-year anniversary at the Blockchain Forum 2025 by receiving accolades for 'Best GameFi App' and 'Best Trading App'. @404mediaco Addressing the challenges of DeFi fragmentation: an exploration of how Omniston scales liquidity on the TON network.
Meet Kelly McKernan, a talented artist hailing from the vibrant city of Nashville, Tennessee. She's known for her captivating watercolor creations that fall within the Imaginative Realism movement, often featuring surreal visuals and strong female figures.
