Keeley DeHart studied studio art with a focus in drawing, painting, and printmaking at Stony Brook University, where she also minored in art history and digital art. She was born on April 12th, 2000. She grew up as the middle child in New Jersey along with her sister, half brother, and stepsister. Her house was always filled with pets that she loved dearly. Though briefly living in Rye, New York at the age of 13, Keeley moved in with her mom in Somers, New York in 2014, where she is based to this day. Her large family and her separation from them can often be seen within her works. Her love for nature and animals is often the subject of her pieces as she is an environmentalist who yearns to educate her audience on topics that impact the earth and the future of humanity. Dance also greatly influences her work as she has been a performing artist since high school and is currently on 3 dance teams based in New York City- Evermore Dance, Not Shy Dance Crew, and OFFBRND. She loves the dynamics dancing allows her to implement within her own paintings.

Keeley’s favorite medium is graphite as it is easy to use anywhere that inspiration strikes. However, she developed a special technique using acrylic and thinning medium. This technique required mixing very little paint with the thinner in order to create a sheer layer on top of a preexisting painting. Although being shortly mentored by artist Alan Reingold, Keeley DeHart has never received former art education outside of her major, and largely credits her skills to being self-taught and naturally gifted. Keeley DeHart has been a part of the “Spaces of the Mind” student exhibition at the Staller Center in addition to the 2021 Fall Senior Honors project online exhibition (in-person exhibition TBA), and expects to graduate with honors accredited to this esteemed achievement.