Sacred Waters 2
Kelly Niceley
Project Description
Images of the Atlantic Ocean are shown from the perspectives of the Ghanaian coast and the United States, juxtaposed together. This is meant to refer to the Middle passage (transatlantic slave trade). This film invokes a state of meditative reflection on the stories told and untold held within this body of water.
Artist Bio
Kelly Niceley runs a private psychotherapy practice in the Bronx, NY called The Peace and Protection Healing Arts Collective, concurrently developing works in her artistic practice. Her collection is informed by her therapy work and emphasizes activism and social justice issues of race, gender, and sexuality.
Born in Silver Spring, MD, Kelly trained at Bard College in painting, sculpture, and mixed media under the tutelage of Kenji Fujita, Amy Sillman, and Juana Valdes, among other celebrated contemporary artists, earning her BA in Studio Art in 2003.
In 2007, she completed her MPS in Creative Arts Therapy and obtained her license to practice psychotherapy in 2011. For eight years, Kelly worked with HIV+ adults in medical and mental health treatment, conducting art therapy groups centered on trauma recovery, overcoming stigma, and issues of grief and spirituality. As a result, her artwork was heavily informed by her therapy practice.