Kerry Sullivan Artist Bio

Kerry Sullivan is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose work explores themes of identity, temporality, and perception through a unique fusion of traditional painting and darkroom photography techniques. Currently based in Providence, Rhode Island, Sullivan is pursuing her studies at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she also serves as a teaching assistant and student leader within Residence Life.

Sullivan’s practice is deeply rooted in the language of movement and transparency. Her recent body of work involves layering multiple exposures—an echo of her background in analog photography—into richly rendered painted portraits. These pieces blur the line between stillness and motion, memory and presence, offering viewers a hauntingly intimate glimpse into the ephemeral nature of selfhood.

Her art has been recognized with numerous accolades, including a National Scholastic Gold Medal, an American Visions Award nomination, and multiple regional honors through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Sullivan has also received scholarships and painting awards from the Dreyfoos School of the Arts Foundation and was a finalist for the National Society of Arts and Letters award.

In addition to her studio practice, Sullivan brings her passion for the arts to the professional sphere as a gallery intern at Gavlak Gallery, where she supports curatorial projects and gains firsthand experience in contemporary gallery operations. Her prior roles at the Norton Museum of Art as a Teen Advisor and her leadership in student programming reflect a longstanding commitment to arts education and community engagement.