November 6, 2026
Indigenous Painter, Illustrator, Designer, and Muralist
Kitana Connelly is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and a descendant of the Molalla, Umpqua, and Klickitat peoples of Oregon. Her multidisciplinary art practice spans abstract painting, illustration, design, murals, and writing, grounded in an ongoing journey of healing, spiritual growth, and connection to her ancestors and the land.
Kitana’s abstract paintings began as a way to release stagnant emotions and let go of perfectionism. By allowing herself to create without rigid expectations, she discovered a practice rooted in freedom, self-discovery, and gratitude. Her work has since become a bridge between herself, the land, and her ancestors.
Working with acrylic and digital paint, Kitana balances expressive, spontaneous gestures with carefully considered details. She sometimes combines traditional and digital approaches, bringing past and present into conversation. Her illustrations, often portraits, offer a more direct exploration of the interconnectedness central to her Indigenous perspective.
For Kitana, creating is more than making art; it is a way to connect, give thanks, and ground herself in Spirit. Through her work, she invites viewers to reflect on their own relationships with place, ancestry, and the world around them.
