Kelly Shami
Selected Works   ☆  Info/CV  ☆ Archive ☆  Contact  
b. 1991 Kelly Shami is a first-generation artist of Syrian and Lebanese descent born in New Jersey. 

She resides and works in Los Angeles.

contact@kellyshami.com
@kellyshami


Education

BFA, School of Visual Arts, 2009-2013
Pre-College Printmaking Program, School of Visual Arts, 2007-2009

Solo Exhibitions

2023, [May-June] Missed Connections, Long Story Short Gallery, Paris, France

2022-2023, [Dec.-Jan.] You Met Me At A Strange Time In My Life, New Image Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 


Fairs

2023, [Sept.]  Kiaf Seoul, The Hole, Booth A18

Group Exhibitions

2026, [Feb.-Mar.] 99Cent, Curated by Barry McGee, Deitch Projects & The Hole, Los Angeles, CA
2024, [Feb.-Mar.] 30 Years of NIA - Group Show, New Image Art, Los Angeles, CA
2024, [Jan.-Feb.] Horripilation - Group Show, The Hole, 312 Bowery, New York, NY
2023-2024, [Oct.-Jan.] Bounce by Oolite Arts and Superposition Gallery, Curated by Storm Ascher, Miami, FL
2023, [Oct.-Nov.] Botany of Desire - Group Show, Swivel Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2023, [Sept.] Heart of a Tiger - Group Show Curated by Laura Fuchs & Planned Parenthood with text by Marilyn Minter, 875 Washington Street, NY
2023, [July-Aug.] Elixir - Group Show Curated by Gabriela Ruiz, TLALOC Studios, Los Angeles, CA
2023, [July-Aug.] Adorned Self - Group Show, Sow & Tailor, Los Angeles, CA
2023, [February] You Need A Mango To Give A Mango, New Image Art Gallery, CDMX, Mexico City
2022, [June-July] Fem. - Group Show, Alchemy Gallery, 55 Delancey Street - New York, NY
2022, [July-Aug.] The Patriot - Group Show, O'Flaherty's, New York, NY
2022, [Jan.-Feb.] "Blad'na" - Group Show with Middle East Archive and YHM, New York, NY
2021, [Sept.-Oct.] Innovate - Group Show, Untitled Space, New York, NY


Press

2026, Dazed[MENA], Kelly Shami searches for home in Aleppo Pepper
2023, The Miami Herald, Bounce, Oolite Arts
2023, Autre, The Act of Ornamentation Is Centered in Adorned Self at Sow & Tailor, LA
2022, GQ Middle East Instagram Highlight: Kelly Shami
2022, ArtDaily.com, Alchemy Gallery Feature
2022, Between East, Middle East Creator Feature
2021, Office People, Office Magazine, Issue 15
2020, Vogue Italia, Kelly Shami - Artist Feature
2020, Milk Studios, Ones To Watch: Kelly Shami
2019, Flaunt Magazine, Q&A | Kelly Shami "Nameplate Poetry"


Publications

2026, Aleppo Pepper,  by Kelly Shami (Published by Sabaya)
2023, The Nameplate: Jewelry, Culture, and Identity, by Marcel Rosa-Salas and Isabel Attyah Flower (Clarkson Potter)
2019, New York(h)er, Poetry Chapbook, by Kelly Shami


Honors & Awards​

2013, School of Visual Arts Honors Program Graduate
2009, AANJ - NJ Emerging Artist


Talks

2020, Apple: Art Lab with Kelly Shami in New York City | 940 Madison Ave
2019, AIGA First Generation Artist Conversation

©Kelly Shami Studio, 2026
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