Artist Linda Simien Kelly – BIO

Artist Linda Simien Kelly, grew up in Louisiana and resides in Houston – though she dabbled in art in high school, she is primarily self- taught and now a full-time artist. As a lighter skinned Black woman who grew up in a Black/White dichotomy in rural Louisiana, Black identity has been a constant theme in her work, for her racial/ethnic ambiguity materializes outside of her hometown. After leaving her small town for university, Kelly was frequently confronted with questions and doubts regarding her race. Her lighter complexion and loose curl pattern gave way to assumptions of Latin American ancestry, and even doubt of the African American roots that she claimed. Working in themes such as cultural solidarity and ethnic perception, Artist Linda Simien Kelly uses her Blackness as a major informant in her art.

Kelly went on to win first prize in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s 17th Annual City Wide African American Artists Exhibition at the Glassell and become one of the Prize Winning Artists of the Lawndale Art Center “The Big Show” Annual Juried Exhibition. In addition, Artist Linda Simien Kelly was a featured artist in many Citywide Artists Juried Exhibitions held at the University Museum at Texas Southern University, the Community Artists Collective Gallery, the Project Row Houses, the Assistance League of Houston Artists Exhibition at Williams Tower, The Art on The Avenue Juried Exhibition, the Archway Gallery, the Gallery Jatad and the “M” Gallery. She has also showcased her paintings at many local restaurants including The Breakfast Klub, Lucille’s Houston, Bohemeo’s’ Cafe, Urban Eats, Kaffeine Coffee and Starbucks. Currently, paintings are showcased at the La Guadalupana Bakery & Café.

She now resides in Houston with her husband, a mother of three sons, and states that her life as a wife and mother has impacted her life just as much as her Blackness. “I am a Black artist, I produce Black artwork”, and “Black experience to artistic expression is what produces Black art” says Artist Linda Simien Kelly.

For Kelly, that incorporates her complicated history with racial identity, her life as a wife and mother, her unique experience as a woman of color in America especially corporate America workplace, and other histories unique to her past and mindset as an artist. Kelly identifies as a Black artist, and views her experiences as a Black person as integral to the outcome of her art.

Linda Simien Kelly is an expressionist – abstract artist whose artwork passionately captures human nature from multiple dimensions.

Artist Linda Simien Kelly considers herself as an artist with many causes – one major one is being an advocate for Sickle Cell Disease & Trait Awareness in our Houston Community. Since 2005, Kelly has sponsored and directed fifteen (15) annual solo art exhibits and show “Consequences of Love” event to promote community awareness of the sickle cell Disease. Bringing in Special Guests including doctors and representatives from various local sickle cell groups. Her contributions provided a bridge for the unity of many local supportive groups with doctors at Texas Children and Baylor.

Exhibition History

First Place Winner of the 17th MFAH Citywide African American Artists Exhibition: MFAH Glassell: 2013.

First Place Winner of the “The Big Show” Artists Exhibition- Lawndale: 2015.

2021 - Annual Art On The Avenue Juried Exhibition 

2020 - "Annual Consequences of Love Art Exhibit" - The Ensemble Theatre

2020 - Urban Arts Exhibit

2020 - Art On The Avenue Artists Exhibition

2019 - The MFAH's ''Citywide African American Artists -Exhibition" - MFAH Glassell

2019 - The MFAH's ''Citywide African American Artists -Exhibition" - Museum of TSU

2019 - 'Women's Work, Mind, Body and Spirit Exhibit" - Community Artists' Collective Gallery

2019 - “Of Women Continues Exhibit" - Community Artists Collective Gallery

"Annual Art On The Avenue Juried Exhibition", Art District

"Collectors Club Exhibits", Project Row Houses

"Annual Art League Citywide Exhibit, Williams Tower Gallery

"Hurricane Harvey Artist Exhibit" Community Artists Collective Gallery

Project Row Houses Collective Group Artist Exhibition

"Annual Juried Exhibition" Archway Gallery "Artists Exhibition" Gallery Jatad
"Artist Exhibition" M Gallery