ABout the artist
Kennedy B. Holley is a visual artist based in Leland, North Carolina, formerly Memphis, Tennessee. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from the University of Memphis in 2021.
Working primarily in oil paint and mixed media, Holley’s practice centers on discarded objects, litter, sustainability, and the quiet evidence of human presence within the environment. Since relocating her practice to coastal North Carolina, Kennedy’s work has shifted with her surroundings. Her upcoming solo exhibition at the Leland Cultural Arts Center, We Were Here, documents the debris she has observed in her everyday life since moving.
Alongside her studio practice, Kennedy is the co-founder of The Golden Yolk Artist Club, which organizes free monthly meetups for creatives of all ages and skill levels. She is passionate about supporting her local art community and encouraging other creatives.
Education
2021 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Studio Arts Concentration
University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Gallery Representation
Ugly Art Co., Memphis, TN
Exhibitions: *solo
2026 We Were Here, Leland Cultural Arts Center, Leland, NC*
2026 Traveling with an Artist’s Eye, The ArtWorks, Wilmington, NC
2026 Abstracts, Florals and Still Lifes, The ArtWorks, Wilmington, NC
2025 Considering Red, The ArtWorks, Wilmington, NC
2025 The Bunker Art Show: A Septic Love Story, Memphis, TN
2025 The Matriarch Exhibition, Off the Walls Arts, Memphis, TN
2025 Art Speaks, Memphis Art Salon, Memphis, TN
2025 Empowered Women Empower Women, Stock & Belle, Memphis, TN
2022 The Smoke Show, Stock & Belle, Memphis, TN*
2021 38th Annual Student Juried Exhibition (Juror: Rehema Barber), Art Museum of the University of Memphis (AMUM), Memphis, TN
2021 Tabula Rasa, Senior Thesis Exhibition, Fogelman Gallery, Memphis, TN
2020 37th Annual Student Juried Exhibition (Juror: Tyler Stallings), AMUM, Memphis
Press
“Building a Sustainable Art Practice,” The Art Coaching Club Podcast, Feb 2026
"Daily Inspiration: Meet Kennedy Holley," Memphis Voyager, Oct 2025