Union StationShelby Keefe is a contemporary impressionistic painter, teacher and performance artist. Classically trained, Shelby earned a BFA at Cardinal Stritch University, Mllwaukee, Wisconsin in 198 I . After graduation she worked as a graphic designer for a variety of companies and eventually struck out on her own. All during her career as a designer, she simultaneously worked toward exhibiting her paintings in order to gain exposure as an emerging artist.

Since 1981 Shelby has exhibited her artwork in dozens of Invitational and juried shows with some of her works earning "Best of Show." Her urban landscape paintings have earned her partidpation in some of the most prestigious Art Festivals as well as garnering commission work for a variety of dients. With the help of talented corporate art consultants, her oil paintings are found in collections such as The Bradley Foundation, Acuity, Northwestern Mutual, Ozaukee Country Club; WE Energies; Allen-Bradley (Rockwell) Company; Habush, Habush and Rottier, SC; Cook & Franke. SC; and other businesses around Milwaukee, and in private collections throughout the area.

Shelby teaches painting classes, conducts workshops, and demonstrates her oil and acrylic painting techniques to artist groups and nonprofit organizations. She is also a painting mentor and "creativity coach" to advanced students who wish to enhance their skills and grow in new directions. Being comfortable in front of people, Shelby has recently taken on the title of "Performance Artist," painting expressively to music, and creating a work from start to finish in about 20 minutes, with an audience looking on.

The artist's statement concerning her subject matter:

"i have a love affair with old buildings,
their histories hiding in the layers of paint, clapboard and brick.
these old beauties-each with their own personality -
some grand, some not-so-grand.
they all have similarities.
it's as if i've seen them all before,
just not in this lifetime.

they call out for my attention,
demanding me to paint them,
and when i put them on canvas
those mysterious old strangers
become friends of mine for life.

these urban landscape portraits
calling attention to their sunlit sides,
breathing life into places mostly ignored -
give a new perspective to these friends
we live with and live within."