Artist Statement:Driven to bring new life to objects that might otherwise be lost or deteriorated in time, I collect traces of lives lived – “memories misplaced in need of recognition” – and use them in my work collaboratively with the paint itself. Most often I work with vintage ephemera, oil, acrylic, and graphite.My work reaches for a balance between the past and the present, while acknowledging what might trigger sentimentality in the future. I do so through the collaborative merging of styles and media. Vintage elements expressed in contemporary times.Over a decade ago I began using various paper ephemera in collage out of love for the materials. The textures, the colors, and most especially the stories they hold. Now, I use them for the same reasons, as well as one more: These materials hold historical importance that we have yet to recognize. Our children know of books and magazines. They use them, but their children may hardly use them at all. And their grandchildren may not even recognize them.We hardly even write letters anymore. So, this is my medium. Vintage ephemera, as we call it, surrounds me in my studio and holds the same importance as the paint does...if not more. UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS 2020 California Cool Art Auction Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2020 Solo “Indian Summer” Craighead Green Gallery Dallas, TX2020 Solo “Breath of Freedom” Kelsey Michaels Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA PAST EXHIBITIONS 2019 “Natural Reflections” KMFA in Association with Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2019 California Cool Art Auction Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2019 Annual Group Exhibition Craighead Green Gallery Dallas, TX2019 Art Party Auction Salt Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2018 Two! Whitney Modern Los Gatos, CA2018 In Nature KMFA in Association with Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2018 Solo “In All I Do” Craighead Green Gallery Dallas, TX2018 Summer Group Exhibition Kelsey Michael Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2018 California Cool Art Auction Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2018 Annual Group Exhibition Craighead Green Gallery Dallas, TX2017 Solo Exhibit by Aberson Tulsa, OK2017 Tenfold Kelsey Michaels Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2017 Indigenous KMFA in Association with Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2017 Amazing Steals Auction Salt Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2017 California Cool Art Auction Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2017 Solo “Unfolding Stories” Kelsey Michaels Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2017 Annual Group Show Craighead Green Gallery Dallas, TX2016 National Juried Exhibition Marin Museum of Contemporary Art Novato, CA2016 Palette to Palate Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2016 Solo “Nostalgia” Craighead Green Gallery Dallas, TX2016 Patterns Attleboro Arts Museum Attleboro, MA2016 Ethos Art Spiral Gallery at Mykonos Blu Mykonos, Greece2016 “Impressions” KMFA in Association with Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2016 “The Obvious Choice” Craighead Green Gallery Dallas, TX2016 62nd Annual Juried Exhibition Pensacola Museum of Art Pensacola, FL2016 California Cool Art Auction Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2016 January Group Exhibition Kelsey Michaels Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2015 Art 2 Give The Blender Gallery Athens, Greece2015 Raw Purity Kelsey Michaels Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2015 61st Annual Juried Exhibition Pensacola Museum of Art Pensacola, FL2015 Kinari + Ethos Ethos Art Athens, Greece2015 Solo “Rock Paper Scissors” Kelsey Michaels Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2015 Selected Works Kelsey Michaels Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2015 Amazing Steals 2015 Salt Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2014 Nature’s Mirrors KMFA in Association with Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA2014 Summer Group Exhibition Kelsey Michaels Fine Art Laguna Beach, CA2013 Affordable Art Fair Seattle Seattle, WA2013 Juried Exhibition Sylvia White Gallery Ventura, CA2012 Affordable Art Fair New York New York, NY2012 Be A Saint Sylvia White Gallery Ventura, CA2012 Contemporary Art Catalogue White Stone Gallery Philadelphia, PA2012 Affordable Art Fair New York New York, NY2012 International Art Expo Pier 92 New York, NY2012 Fine Art & Faith Exhibit White Stone Gallery Philadelphia, PA2011 Solo Studio Chameleon Newport Beach, CA2011 International Art Expo Pier 92 New York, NY2010 HD Expo Sands Expo and Convention Center Las Vegas, NV2010 International Artexpo Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York, NY2009 International Artexpo Jacob K. Javits Convention Center New York, NY2007 Small Surprises Perrell Fine Art Hollywood, CA2007 Solo Riviera Home Laguna Beach, CA2005 Anniversary Show Riviera Collections Newport Beach, CA2004 Selected Works Richard F. Brush Art Gallery Canton, NY