about

Biography

Kelly Edwards Seim is a Philadelphia-based artist who grew up in the American West, surrounded by the rugged beauty of Utah red rock deserts and Colorado mountains. She earned a BFA in 1997 from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI, and later an MSW in 2004 from the University of Utah, College of Social Work. For many years, Seim set aside painting to focus on her career as a psychotherapist, only to realize that making art was an essential part of her own growth and well-being.

Her return to painting reawakened her creative voice and drew her into the dynamic Northern Utah art scene, where she exhibited frequently and fostered connection by organizing gatherings for artists to collaborate and build community. In 2019, she relocated to Philadelphia in search of new adventures, a vibrant cultural landscape, and a diverse artistic community. It was in Philly that Seim also discovered ceramics and she is frequently found in her local studio sculpting floral and figurative objects.

Artist Statement

My work as an artist and psychotherapist are deeply interconnected, guided by a passion and curiosity about the human experience—both in body and psyche. Through painting, sculpting, and therapy, I explore how identity is formed, expressed, and transformed, drawing attention to images and themes that are both personal and universal. My practice seeks spontaneous, meaningful expressions that emerge from the self, inviting them to be embraced, elaborated, and shared.

I see each work as a narrative space where fantasy, play, and archetype converge to illuminate the inner life. My figurative paintings and sculptures—stylized and vividly hued—are studies of self, emotion, relationships, and the unconscious. They are also reflections of community, offering viewers a way to recognize themselves in others, and to engage in a collective exploration of what it means to be human.