Jyl Kelley

Jyl Kelley is a Professor in the Art & Design Department at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. She has been with the university since 2008 and is currently on sabbatical during the 2024/25 academic year. Prior to joining UWEC, Kelley served as a Visiting Lecturer of photography at Georgia State University and taught photography courses at several other institutions including the University of New Mexico, Bloomsburg University, UC Santa Cruz, and the School of the Museum of Fine Art in Boston.

Her educational background includes:

• M.F.A. in Photography from the University of New Mexico
• B.F.A. in Photographic Illustration from the Rochester Institute of Technology

Kelley is an intermedia artist whose work integrates digital technology, photography, public art, and installation art techniques with a special interest in exploring and visualizing nature. Her creative process often involves transforming still photos into sensory experiences, challenging audiences to consider new ideas and perspectives. As both an artist and educator, she is deeply committed to contributing to the growth and understanding of visual art and artists.

Her artistic output consistently explores the relationship between technology and nature, often creating works that encourage viewers to look beyond digital environments and appreciate natural phenomena. Many projects involve international collaborations and public installations that engage communities in new ways of seeing.

Her notable achievements include:

• Best Experimental Film award at the Los Angeles Film Festival for 'Inside Out'
• Best Edited Film award at the Los Angeles Film Festival for 'Inside Out'
• Selection for screening at the Oxford International Film Festival
• International exhibition record spanning multiple continents

As a curator, Professor Kelley has organized numerous exhibitions that explore art-technology-cultural intersections. Her notable curatorial projects include 'Animal Skins: Visual Surfaces,' 'Land: Mine,' and 'Cultural Perceptions.' She has also contributed to community art initiatives such as Chalkfest, which transforms campus sidewalks into temporary art spaces.

One of her most visible public works is the Bus shelter mosaic piece on Water Street in Eau Claire, featured at https://subaquaticbusstop.neocities.org/, demonstrating her commitment to integrating art into everyday public environments.