ALL: Master Collection List
Nationality
American
Preview
Date of Work
2026
Medium
Oil on canvas
Signature
On back
Height
40"
Width
30"
Depth
1 1/2"
Collection/Provenance
UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences Collection
Status
Stored
Location
UND Art Collections Repository
Artist Bio
Grand Forks native and University of North Dakota alumna Kelli J. Nelson is a Minneapolis-based painter and educator whose work explores the relationship between reality and imagination. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting with a minor in Art History from UND in 2010, followed by a Master of Fine Arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2013. Her paintings incorporate organic forms, plant life, and landscapes to create dreamlike compositions that evoke emotional and psychological experiences. Nelson has participated in artist residencies at the North Dakota Museum of Art's McCanna House and received a 2019 Artist Initiative Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. Her work is represented in private collections and the University of North Dakota Permanent Art Collection.
Additional Information
A non-representational painting that demonstrates Nelson's use of large, sweeping brushstrokes in purple, salmon, coral, gold, blue, and turquoise. There is a clear sense of movement in the piece, which is referenced in its title, Bird Dance.
Condition
Excellent
Rights
Images are provided for educational purposes only and may not be reproduced for commercial use. Images may be protected by artist copyright. A credit line is required to be used for any public non-commercial educational purpose. The credit line must include, “Image courtesy of the University of North Dakota.”