Kelly Olshan is a NYC-based arts manager and visual artist passionate about providing fiscal and educational resources for creative practitioners. She currently serves as New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)’s Program Officer, Career Advice and Training, where she manages a host of professional development programs for artists of all disciplines globally. Previously, she served as the Program Manager for Queens Council on the Arts, where she founded the organization’s Artist Commissioning Program; oversaw the portfolio and professional development programs; and authored the book How You Can Commission Art.
As a practicing artist, her 3D paintings and site-specific installations invite the viewer to navigate towards an unattainable space. Her work has been exhibited nationally, including a solo public art exhibition at the Garment District Alliance’s Space for Public Art (NY, NY). Additional solo exhibitions include Earlville Opera House (Earlville, NY), Ground Floor Contemporary (Birmingham, AL), and Sean Christopher Gallery (Columbus, OH). Group exhibitions in NYC include Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos, Artist Equity Gallery, and The Yard. She has given artist talks and guest lectures at School of Visual Arts (SVA), Rhode Island School of Art and Design (RISD), Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center, and Columbia University, among others.
Kelly graduated Valedictorian from UNC Asheville, where she obtained a BFA in Painting (2015) , and holds an MA in Arts Administration from Columbia University (2017).
