About Maureen Kelly,
Nature Landscape Painter
Maureen Kelly is a New York-based painter whose landscapes bring peace and reflection to collectors across the U.S.
If you long for calm in a chaotic world, my art offers that quiet space.
I’m a nature landscape painter who came to art later in life—not because I finally had time, but because I finally gave myself permission.
I’d dreamed of being an artist since I was a teenager. But like so many women, I set that dream aside when life got heavy. I raised four children, worked full-time, and spent decades showing up for others. It wasn’t until 2020—midway through a college program with only a handful of art classes—that I sought out a mentor and began to paint. That one small step brought something back to life in me.
Now, painting is where I come home to myself.
I’m especially drawn to natural spaces that offer stillness and breath—meadows, shorelines, distant hills. Every year, I travel with my children and grandchildren to coastal New England. We rent a house, walk the shoreline, and breathe in the salt air. The ocean is my grounding place. That calm is what I bring into every canvas.
I work mostly from my own photographs—places I’ve stood, moments I want to hold onto. I begin with loose shapes and bold color, letting the image slowly emerge. It’s not about perfection. It’s about turning something chaotic into something whole. That process mirrors my life.
If there’s a place or memory you’d like to preserve, I welcome the opportunity to commission a painting that’s meaningful to you or someone you love.
My art is quiet, but it isn’t surface-level. It carries the wisdom of someone who’s lived many lives—mother, caregiver, worker, survivor—and still chooses softness. My work is deeply personal. It reflects what I value most: peace, presence, nature, and the parts of life we’re often too busy to notice.
I believe beauty matters—especially now. In a world that moves fast, where people are overlooked and nature is too often treated as disposable, I paint to preserve what’s sacred. My work honors the quiet strength of those who rarely get to rest. It’s a tribute to my grandparents, who never got the retirement they deserved. It’s a way of saying: you’ve done enough. You deserve peace, too.
My work has been exhibited at the Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts, and I’ve completed numerous successful commissioned paintings for private collectors. Whether it’s a landscape or a beloved pet portrait, I approach each piece with care, intention, and a desire to create something meaningful.
When I’m not in the studio, you’ll find me in the woods, visiting a garden, or spending time with my grandchildren. Painting is how I refill my well—and share what I’ve found with others.
If my work speaks to you, I invite you to start your collection — and bring a sense of calm, connection, and beauty into your space.
