Artist Lisa Kelley has been jointly chosen as resident artist by Mural Arts Philadelphia Tacony LAB and Riverfront North Partnership, announced today. The artist residency, with a starting time for the residency in January 2023, will focus on the Riverfront North Greenway trails along the Delaware River.  

“The vision for the artist residency centers on the Leni Lenape origins and use of the Delaware river and surrounding trails as a connector,” said Gina Craigo, Community Engagement Manager of Riverfront North Partnership. “These are connections that have endured until current times.”

“The residency will engage the Lower Northeast community around Riverfront North’s K&T Trail in the Wissinoming and Tacony sections of the city and at the Tacony LAB Community Art Center,” said Barb Baur, Project Manager of the Tacony LAB. “We are excited to have her working with both organizations.”

Lisa Kelley is a trauma-informed artist who is interested in the connection between art and social change. Her background in graphic design has influenced her work through explorations of color, pattern and repetition. Collage, paint, fibers, textiles, metal, found objects and hand-carved stamps make up some of her recent work.

Riverfront North Partnership is the non-profit partner working with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to complete and sustain the riverfront trail and network of parks along the Delaware River from Allegheny Ave north to the Bucks County line.  The goal is to connect residents of urban neighborhoods to nature and offer unparalleled recreational, community building, and environmental education activities.

Mural Arts Philadelphia exists to provide transformative experiences, progressive discourse, and economic stimulus to the City of Philadelphia through participatory public art that beautifies, advocacy that inspires, and educational programming and employment opportunities that empower.

The Tacony LAB Community Art Center runs an artist-in-residence program, offers art classes for adults and youth, holds open studio sessions for the public in our well-equipped studio/maker space, and presents arts-focused events free of charge. The Tacony LAB is a collaboration with The City of Philadelphia, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and Philadelphia City Councilmember Mike Driscoll.

Click on this video to meet Lisa!