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Howdy! My name is Kaeli and I’m an artist based California with a BFA in illustration from California College of the Arts! I strive to invite my audience into playful, vivid worlds that are at once emotionally resonant and visually imaginative, often through motifs of queerness, nostalgia, girlhood, and California iconography. My approach to art is distinctly process-oriented and methodologically playful. I blend digital tools with analog techniques, screen printing, zine-making, riso-graph, scanned textures, and hand-crafted print media, to build rich, tactile worlds. This intersection of precision (from digital editing) and unpredictability (from analog methods) mirrors the layered experience of identity itself: perfectly imperfect! I have been featured in over 60 visual art installations since 2021, curated four exhibitions working with over 500 artists, and have been published in 18 magazines including Society of Illustrators, SF Queer Cultural Center, Xin Sai Magazine, Jardin Zine, and U.K. Femicide. Notable recent clients include California Academy of the Sciences, YMCA SF, Children & Nature Department, Sterne Grove Festival, and more.…Howdy! My name is Kaeli and I’m an artist based California with a BFA in illustration from California College of the Arts! I strive to invite my audience into playful, vivid worlds that are at once emotionally resonant and visually imaginative, often through motifs of queerness, nostalgia, girlhood, and California iconography. My approach to art is distinctly process-oriented and methodologically playful. I blend digital tools with analog techniques, screen printing, zine-making, riso-graph, scanned textures, and hand-crafted print media, to build rich, tactile worlds. This intersection of precision (from digital editing) and unpredictability (from analog methods) mirrors the layered experience of identity itself: perfectly imperfect! I have been featured in over 60 visual art installations since 2021, curated four exhibitions working with over 500 artists, and have been published in 18 magazines including Society of Illustrators, SF Queer Cultural Center, Xin Sai Magazine, Jardin Zine, and U.K. Femicide. Notable recent clients include California Academy of the Sciences, YMCA SF, Children & Nature Department, Sterne Grove Festival, and more.

Kaeli McLeod

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Howdy! My name is Kaeli and I’m an artist based California with a BFA in illustration from California College of the Arts! I strive to invite my audience into playful, vivid worlds that are at once emotionally resonant and visually imaginative, often through motifs of queerness, nostalgia, girlhood, and California iconography. My approach to art is distinctly process-oriented and methodologically playful. I blend digital tools with analog techniques, screen printing, zine-making, riso-graph, scanned textures, and hand-crafted print media, to build rich, tactile worlds. This intersection of precision (from digital editing) and unpredictability (from analog methods) mirrors the layered experience of identity itself: perfectly imperfect! I have been featured in over 60 visual art installations since 2021, curated four exhibitions working with over 500 artists, and have been published in 18 magazines including Society of Illustrators, SF Queer Cultural Center, Xin Sai Magazine, Jardin Zine, and U.K. Femicide. Notable recent clients include California Academy of the Sciences, YMCA SF, Children & Nature Department, Sterne Grove Festival, and more.…Howdy! My name is Kaeli and I’m an artist based California with a BFA in illustration from California College of the Arts! I strive to invite my audience into playful, vivid worlds that are at once emotionally resonant and visually imaginative, often through motifs of queerness, nostalgia, girlhood, and California iconography. My approach to art is distinctly process-oriented and methodologically playful. I blend digital tools with analog techniques, screen printing, zine-making, riso-graph, scanned textures, and hand-crafted print media, to build rich, tactile worlds. This intersection of precision (from digital editing) and unpredictability (from analog methods) mirrors the layered experience of identity itself: perfectly imperfect! I have been featured in over 60 visual art installations since 2021, curated four exhibitions working with over 500 artists, and have been published in 18 magazines including Society of Illustrators, SF Queer Cultural Center, Xin Sai Magazine, Jardin Zine, and U.K. Femicide. Notable recent clients include California Academy of the Sciences, YMCA SF, Children & Nature Department, Sterne Grove Festival, and more.

Available to hire

Howdy! My name is Kaeli and I’m an artist based California with a BFA in illustration from California College of the Arts!

I strive to invite my audience into playful, vivid worlds that are at once emotionally resonant and visually imaginative, often through motifs of queerness, nostalgia, girlhood, and California iconography.

My approach to art is distinctly process-oriented and methodologically playful. I blend digital tools with analog techniques, screen printing, zine-making, riso-graph, scanned textures, and hand-crafted print media, to build rich, tactile worlds. This intersection of precision (from digital editing) and unpredictability (from analog methods) mirrors the layered experience of identity itself: perfectly imperfect!

I have been featured in over 60 visual art installations since 2021, curated four exhibitions working with over 500 artists, and have been published in 18 magazines including Society of Illustrators, SF Queer Cultural Center, Xin Sai Magazine, Jardin Zine, and U.K. Femicide. Notable recent clients include California Academy of the Sciences, YMCA SF, Children & Nature Department, Sterne Grove Festival, and more.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Work Experience

Assistant to the Director, Student Management at CCA Center for Art & Public Life

January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2026

Coordinated the planning & execution of 25+ large-scale events, led cross-functional teams of up to 30, and cultivated inclusive, high-impact experiences that strengthened community engagement.

Graphic Design Fellow, Illustrator at Oakland Low Down Design

February 1, 2023 - June 1, 2023

Collaborated with an intimate team of local artists and partnered with over 40 Oakland residents; researched, designed zines, posters, and installations for the Oakland Low Down and related programs.

Residential Education / Residential Assistant at California College of the Arts

August 1, 2024 - June 1, 2025

Served as a liaison between students and administration, addressing concerns and fostering an inclusive environment, promoting academic success through event planning and 1:1 conversations with over 40 residents.

Illustrator at Creative Citizens in Action / Community Outreach

January 1, 2025 - June 1, 2025

Developed a series of eye-catching poster illustrations on topics including social justice, literature, democracy, and creative activism. Designed engaging decor for event spaces while collaborating with performers and event producers.

Teacher at City Studio

May 1, 2025 - May 1, 2026

Created, taught, and tailored lesson plans in botanical illustration and visual development for learners aged 5–30 in groups of 5–30. Led hands-on sessions, adapted instruction to meet different skill levels, and fostered creativity in a supportive environment.

Program Manager & Event Coordinator at Love Lives in SF

January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2026

Managed community arts activities and high-impact cultural events across San Francisco. Coordinated cross-sector partnerships with local businesses, entertainment districts, volunteers, and community organizations; served as on-call manager for weekly Sunday activities and oversaw operations.

Teacher's Assistant at Oakland Community School for Creative Education

January 1, 2024 - March 1, 2024

Helped cultivate a focused and creative classroom environment while guiding up to 15 students aged 6–14 through imaginative exercises and navigating creative blocks.

Writing Coach at 826 Valencia

March 1, 2021 - December 1, 2023

Provided 1:1 creative writing and illustration mentorship to students aged 6–11, fostering verbal and written communication skills while directing productive thinking.