Kelly Sullivan

Kelly Sullivan (born April 30, 1964) is an American painter known for her collaborative paintings called “FingerSmears”. Sullivan combines finger smears and signatures of hundreds of people on one canvas to commemorate events around the country. Over 60,000 people across the United States, including The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and many others have contributed to Sullivan’s work.

Sullivan was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, she was taught to paint at an early age by her maternal grandmother, Alice Foster. Her studio is in Driggs, Idaho.

Sullivan’s tradition works on canvas include sports, musicians, nudes, and the human condition. Sullivan’s “FingerSmears” have been created to raise funds for The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, New Jersey and California Food Banks, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs across the country and other arts, health and education organizations. Other well known works include depictions of musical icons including The Dave Matthews Band, B.B. King, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Rogers, Pete Seeger, Koko Taylor, Clarence Clemons, John Lee Hooker.