Kelsey Montague is one of very few artists who are exploring how public art,interactive art and social media intersect. She believes that art should not be separated from the human experience. Instead the human experience should have a hand in creating the art itself. Kelsey creates large scale, interactive street murals around the world. Kelsey has created work in Cape Town, Galway, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Manchester, Nashville, Los Angeles and New York City (among many others). Each piece provides an opportunity for people to become a ‘living work of art.’ Participants are encouraged to post pictures with the work on social media under the hashtag #whatliftsyou with the intent of making social media a kinder place. Her work has been featured and/or commissioned by Taylor Swift, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Smithsonian and The Today Show.
With over 155,000 followers Kelsey uses her Instagram to continue to explore how art can, and should, weave itself into our daily lives.In 2016 she came out with her first coloring book for adults – What Lifts You (published by Harlequin/Harper Collins). Each illustration in this coloring book is designed to remind you to consider what inspires you and to take your creation and share it online within the #WhatLiftsYou community on Instagram. In October 2016 she came out with her second coloring book for adults – What Lifts Your Heart. Kelsey has done product collaborations with Gap, United Airlines, Swell, Starbucks, Vans, Uniqlo, and Guess. Kelsey is passionate about social justice issues and has worked with The Red Campaign, Pencils of Promise, The Anchor School for Blind Children, Peruvian Hearts and the UNHCR. She has createdpieces to help communities heal after the shootings at Pulse Nightclub, MarjoryStoneman Douglas High School and Thunderbird High School. In 2016 Kelsey launched the #EqualityLifts hashtag in NYC to encourage discussions on race and equality. She continues to produce work around anti-racism efforts and actively assists the ‘Love as a Kind of Cure’ digital festival – dedicated to anti-racism work.