Kelly Hider is a regionally and nationally exhibiting artist living in Knoxville, Tennessee. She received her BFA from SUNY Brockport in 2007, and an MFA from the University of Tennessee in 2011. Solo shows include exhibits at Unrequited Leisure in Nashville, the Clayton Arts Center in Maryville, TN, and Lincoln Memorial University. Hider’s work was featured on the cover of the independent art journal, Number: Inc. in 2016, and she has twice been awarded Ann & Steve Bailey Opportunity Grants through the Arts & Culture Alliance’s Heritage Fund in Knoxville. A proud Hambidge Fellow, Hider completed an artist residency at the Hambidge Center in Rabun Gap, Georgia in 2019. Kelly has worked as a full-time staff member at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts for eight years. Having recently been promoted to Director of National Programs, Hider has held two prior staff positions as Arrowmont’s Youth Education Programs Manager, and Gallery Manager. Hider has also served on the Governing Board of Tennessee Craft since 2021. Finding inspiration from found photographs, Hider’s work uses photo-editing and surface manipulations to celebrate these ephemeral moments, and to explore ideas of presence and absence.