Kelli Nyman has a deep interest in how our physical environment affects both how we feel about ourselves and how we connect with others.  Nyman discovered that she could create calm and balance for herself internally by bringing order and openness to her external surroundings.  She learned this skill through her experience growing up in a house filled with lots of clutter. The chaotic, unbalanced energy it created, at times, became a source of anxiety, shame, and isolation. 

Using paper, a material often associated with clutter, Nyman creates minimalist, sculptural paintings that transform the medium into structured, yet delicate forms intentionally arranged in abstract compositions softened by muted, monochromatic palettes.  Combining meditative processes like repetitive pleating and folding with intuitive and gestural freehand cutting and shaping, Nyman’s work balances familiar patterns with unexpected moments. 

Nyman believes that by creating space around the things we care about, we give them even greater importance, and also, this simple, yet transformative act frees up our energy for the experiences, interactions, and relationships that matter to us most.