I was born and raised in San Francisco by the beach. I am strongly influenced by the ocean, living beings, construction, decomposition, and psychology. I have pursued art and music from a young age, and attended the SF Ruth Asawa School of the Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia to study drawing, painting and sculpture. I work with my family business in the daytime designing and building solar energy systems for rooftops, and spend my nights and weekends making artwork in my home studio.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Grace Kennedy Panda is a mixed-media painter from San Francisco, CA

“Mark making is a universally expressive language that can help decipher the most complex or suppressed feelings. I work with visual materials, sounds and movement to communicate inner and outer landscapes. Color dynamics and relationship of shape illustrate a fluid connection between ones psyche and the observed; I aim to find transformation within artwork and the mind. Although my work primarily explores the abstract, illustrative narratives from direct observation and memory often lead a story through my pieces. I like to make immersive pieces of art that create a space to dive into, or a story to find.”

Materials and methods used in Grace’s art-making practice reflect historic practices, and embrace safer alternatives for our planet like non toxic options and recycled materials.