Kelli O’Neill
Kelli O’Neill’s relationship to art began early and was actively encouraged. Some of her earliest memories involve narrating stories to her mother and drawing alongside her father at the kitchen table. By first grade, she had received honorable mention in a regional theater’s young playwrights’ competition, and by third grade, she had her first piece accepted into an art show, where it received a blue ribbon. These early experiences established creative work as a natural part of her life rather than a separate pursuit.
Although art was central in childhood, O’Neill shifted focus during college, majoring in anthropology with an emphasis on archaeology. After graduating, she returned to making, bringing with her a broader understanding of culture, history, and material relationships. That return coincided with sharing work online under the name IncendiaryAngel, where she developed a following for her polymer clay sculptures.
Her sculptural practice is centered on polymer clay, a medium she is drawn to for its tactile and three-dimensional qualities. O’Neill often creates frogs, snakes, and other animals inspired by memories of childhood summers in Florida. These figures are frequently combined with detailed elements such as sculpted gemstones, desserts, and techniques associated with miniatures and jewelry. While she also paints and draws, polymer clay remains her primary medium because it allows her to physically engage with form, viewing and adjusting a piece from multiple angles as it develops.
Animal welfare and promoting a vegan lifestyle are core motivations in her work, though these themes are not always addressed directly. Her use of imaginative and playful imagery reflects a belief in a vibrant, joyful life grounded in compassion for animals beyond those kept as pets. This approach shifted temporarily in response to the 2019 Amazon Rainforest fires, when grief for affected wildlife and frustration with cattle ranching, a major contributor to global deforestation, led her to work in watercolor. That series allowed her to address loss and destruction in a more direct and somber visual language.
Across media, O’Neill’s work asks viewers to pause and consider the relationship between personal values and everyday actions. She is particularly interested in drawing attention to the often unseen consequences of meat production, from the treatment of farm animals to the destruction of ecosystems required to sustain the industry. Through color, material, and subject matter, her work aims to communicate both urgency and care, grounding advocacy in visual richness and personal conviction.
