Kimry Jelen

Artist Kimry Jelen demonstrates an intimate understanding of her subjects, a sensitivity shaped by years spent working closely with horses. Today, she devotes herself fully to her own horses and art, painting with a contemporary style that flows freely from abstract to representational. She uses playful perspectives, deep textures, and bold, surprising colors to express passion and spirit in her work.

For those who know and love her paintings, Kimry’s name is synonymous with horses. Yet her creativity extends well beyond them — she also paints dogs, cats, rabbits, other critters, and landscapes. She says:

“My art is an opportunity to share with others what nature shares with me. Every creation is a celebration of life, whether an aspen grove, the power of horses, or an animal’s sense of humor! I receive so much joy from interpreting my experiences with paint, brush, and palette knife.”

Kimry’s Bio is continued below. Click on any image below to see an enlarged view.

Her art is deeply influenced by the places she has lived and traveled. She worked for ranches in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and New Mexico, has ridden parts of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Cascades, and horses in the classical arenas of Portugal and Spain. Inspiration from these experiences is evident in her remarkable use of space, texture, and color.

This native Oregonian’s work has found its way into private collections across the United States and around the world. In 2014, she was invited to exhibit at the World Equestrian Games in France. Kimry was the only American — and one of just six artists worldwide — chosen to participate. She raised the funds to ship more than 40 pieces of art to Caen, France, where her work was viewed by more than half a million people. That international recognition led to other exhibitions and numerous commissions.

One such commission is Invitation, a six-by-eight-foot painting of a horse, which hangs in the Lakeside Bistro at Black Butte Ranch. Today, Kimry’s original paintings, giclée prints, and note cards are available at Sisters Gallery and Frame Shop.

You can see more of her work on her website kimryjelen.com