ArtPrize 2026 · Grand Rapids City Hall · September 18–October 3
THE MATRIARCH
The natural world reveals what we conceal.
Artist Statement
Power that already exists.
The Matriarch is a five-painting series exploring how power appears when it is neither granted, announced nor performed. Through animals whose social structures challenge familiar assumptions, the work considers authority, wisdom, protection, connection and quiet inner strength.
If nature recognizes leadership without assumptions, why do humans struggle to do the same?
Interested in The Matriarch?
Contact the artist for availability and inquiries.
01 · Expression of Power
UnannouncedAuthority
Crowned Hyena
Leadership isn’t declared. It’s recognized.
She carries the weight of the crown without needing to be seen coming.
The Story of The Matriarch
Power remembered.
The origin
The Matriarch began with Unannounced Authority, a crowned spotted hyena. Hyenas are often portrayed as chaotic or lesser animals, yet female spotted hyenas lead their societies with unquestioned authority.
After nearly 29 years in local government, I understood the experience of contributing steadily while still feeling underestimated. The hyena was misunderstood, underestimated, and powerful. It became a deeply personal symbol.
The crown and the hyena
The crown does not give her power. It represents power remembered.
In A Reminder, a bonobo gently adjusts the hyena’s crown. She is not granting authority; she is recalling what the hyena already carries.
The symbolism of teal
When I was a child, my older brother and I played a game we called “King of the Couch.” Whenever I wore a teal sweatshirt, I felt certain I would win. While creating The Matriarch, that memory returned and teal began appearing throughout the paintings.
Teal represents the self that knew its worth before disappointment, expectations or being underestimated taught it to question that knowledge.
It is one thing to be underestimated by others. The greater danger is when we begin to underestimate ourselves.
The animals in The Matriarch do not wait for permission to embody strength, intelligence, wisdom or authority. Their power already exists.
The language of the animals
The Five Expressions Revealed.
The Matriarch, told through five works.
Unannounced Authority
Crowned Hyena
Power remembered. The crowned spotted hyena embodies authority that exists before others recognize it.
Quiet Authority and Calmness
Bonobo with Floral Crown
Composure, compassion and strength without domination.
Wisdom and Legacy
Elephant with Calf
Memory, protection and guidance carried across generations.
Strength and Presence
Lioness
Confidence and instinctive leadership. Authority without performance.
A Reminder
Bonobo with Crowned Hyena
A gentle act of connection that recalls what is already present.
ArtPrize 2026 · September 18–October 3
The Matriarch at Grand Rapids City Hall.
Permanent exhibition record
Five paintings. One shared question.If nature recognizes leadership without assumptions, why do humans struggle to do the same?
Media & Interviews
IN THE NEWS
Northern Michigan University
NMU Alumna Featured in ArtPrize
Northern Today shared Kelly’s path from public service to a full-time art practice and the story behind The Matriarch.
Read the NMU featureVoices of ArtPrize
Creativity, art, and possibility
Kelly spoke about her ArtPrize experience, the value of making art, and the sense of possibility created when so many artists and creative voices come together.
“When you create something, you are putting something beautiful into the world that wasn’t there before, and I think the world could use more of that.”
“Having so many creatives in one space makes anything feel possible.”
What comes next
The story continues.
Future exhibition information and new developments in The Matriarch story will be shared here as they take shape.
Read Kelly’s ArtPrize reflection →