Keshay Devine

Lives and works in Atlanta, GA

Artist statement

My work is rooted in storytelling, emotion, culture, and the experiences that shape who we become. I create bold, large-scale figurative paintings and sculptural works that are meant to command space, not simply exist within it. Working primarily in oil on wood, I use vivid color, recognizable imagery, symbolism, and layered details to explore identity, strength, vulnerability, memory, beauty, ambition, and the complexities of the human experience. Portraiture is often my starting point, but capturing a likeness is never the entire purpose. I am interested in the story behind the face, the energy, history, emotion, and cultural significance a person or image can carry. My work is also deeply influenced by my own experiences as a woman, mother, and artist building something that can extend beyond me. Whether I am creating an intimate portrait, a five-foot painting, sculpture, or work for a public space, I want the finished piece to have presence. I want people to stop, look closer, feel something, and discover details they may not have noticed at first. Ultimately, I create work that celebrates people and their stories while leaving room for the viewer to find pieces of their own story within mine.

Artwork