The Art
My practice investigates how collective human experience becomes embedded in memory, identity, environment, and the structures of society. It has evolved through interconnected bodies of work exploring the psychological and moral fractures created by trauma, violence, displacement, environmental disruption, and social division, while considering how individuals and communities adapt, connect, and transform in response to these forces.
Working across encaustic, oil, cold wax, sculpture, assemblage, fiber, and shaped substrates, I build materially layered works in which concealment and revelation, fragmentation and continuity, destruction and renewal coexist. Landscape, water, organic forms, and geological structures function not simply as subjects, but as metaphors for psychological, social, and ecological states. The physical processes of layering, embedding, excavating, melting, and reshaping become analogues for the ways experience, history, and environment are altered over time.
My practice extends beyond the visual through multisensory artwork clusters incorporating sound, poetry, scent, touch, and taste. These elements invite viewers to encounter complex emotional and conceptual states through the body as well as the intellect.
Increasingly, my work considers the permeability of boundaries between human, non-human, and environmental experience. I am interested in the unseen networks that connect living systems and in what they reveal about vulnerability, interdependence, resilience, and our responsibility to one another and to the world we inhabit.
Ultimately, my work asks how the forces shaping human and environmental experience leave their traces—within individuals, communities, landscapes, and the structures of society—and how those traces may be understood, transformed, and reimagined through connection and awareness.
Working across encaustic, oil, cold wax, sculpture, assemblage, fiber, and shaped substrates, I build materially layered works in which concealment and revelation, fragmentation and continuity, destruction and renewal coexist. Landscape, water, organic forms, and geological structures function not simply as subjects, but as metaphors for psychological, social, and ecological states. The physical processes of layering, embedding, excavating, melting, and reshaping become analogues for the ways experience, history, and environment are altered over time.
My practice extends beyond the visual through multisensory artwork clusters incorporating sound, poetry, scent, touch, and taste. These elements invite viewers to encounter complex emotional and conceptual states through the body as well as the intellect.
Increasingly, my work considers the permeability of boundaries between human, non-human, and environmental experience. I am interested in the unseen networks that connect living systems and in what they reveal about vulnerability, interdependence, resilience, and our responsibility to one another and to the world we inhabit.
Ultimately, my work asks how the forces shaping human and environmental experience leave their traces—within individuals, communities, landscapes, and the structures of society—and how those traces may be understood, transformed, and reimagined through connection and awareness.
The Artist
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M. E. Klesse is a multisensory interdisciplinary artist based in Rockport, Texas, whose work has been exhibited internationally in New York, London, Rome, Ontario, and throughout the United States. Her work is held in the permanent collections of the Museum of Encaustic Art, San Antonio Art League Museum, and Museum of History, Lyons, New York, as well as in the collections of ClearWell Dynamics, the Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi, and the Aransas County Navigation District.
Born in New Jersey, Klesse studied Philosophy at Rutgers University and pursued formal studio art studies at Pratt Institute and the New York Studio School. Her background as a registered nurse and decades of volunteer work have informed a sustained inquiry into the psychological, social, and moral dimensions of collective experience. Klesse works across oil, cold wax, encaustic, sculpture, assemblage, and fiber. Her practice includes “artwork clusters,” multisensory installations integrating visual, tactile, auditory, and olfactory elements. Through materially layered and immersive works, she explores the ways collective experience becomes embedded in memory, identity, environment, and the structures of society. Her interconnected bodies of work examine psychological and moral fractures arising from trauma, violence, displacement, environmental disruption, and social division, while also considering adaptation, interdependence, and the capacity for transformation and renewal. Increasingly, Klesse's work considers the porous boundaries between human, non-human, and environmental experience, investigating the unseen networks that connect living systems and the shared vulnerabilities and responsibilities that emerge from those connections. |
Representation
Galeria Azur - Miami, Madrid, Buenos Aires
Coast Modern Gallery Rockport TX
Public Art
2026–2027 — It’s Our Pride, temporary installation, Metro Houston Midtown, Houston, TX
2021–2022 — Rockport Weathers the Storms, 10-piece temporary installation, Rockport-Fulton, TX
Solo/ Guest Exhibitions
2026 - Out of the Darkness, Guest Artist, Wind Way Gallery, Rockport TX
2025 - Realms: Solace for the Silent Scream, Solo, Coast Modern studio Gallery, Rockport, TX
2024 - Binge Watch: Coastal Birds in the landscape, Solo, Coast Modern studio Gallery, Rockport, TX
2023 - Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, featured artist, Alta Arts, Houston, TX
2022 - From Somewhere in the Middle, Solo, Ardest Gallery, Magnolia, TX
2021 - The New Normal, Solo installation: Coast Modern / Daily Grind/ Aransas Navigation District/ Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi, Rockport, TX
Group Exhibitions (selected)
2026 — INspiration, Encaustic Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM
2026 ---Salon Show, One Art Space (Artist Talk Magazine), Tribeca, NY
2023-26 — Texas Artists Exhibition, Beeville Art Museum, Beeville, TX
2023-26 — Wet Paint, Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI
2025 — International Encaustic Art Exhibit, Cooperstown, NY
2025 — Salon Spectacular, K Space Contemporary, Corpus Christi, TX
2025 — San Antonio Art League Museum, San Antonio, TX
2024 — Canadian Encaustic Conference, Ontario, Canada
2024 — Off the Walls, Arts Southeast, Savannah, GA
2024 — Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX
2024 — Elements of Contrast (TENacious), Artifex Gallery, Houston, TX
2023 — Walk a Mile in Their Shoes (Featured Artist), Alta Arts, Houston, TX
2023 — Museum of Encaustic Art, Los Cerrillos, NM
2022 — Malamegi Art Lab, Rome, Italy
2022 — Boomer Gallery, London, UK
2022 — Red Bluff Gallery, CA
2022 — New York Studio School Alumni Exhibition, NY
2021 — Album Cover, Whispers from Above, Austin, TX
2020 — 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2020 — Pratt Institute Student Exhibition, NY
Awards & Residencies (selected)
2026 — Little Bushkill Rod & Gun Artist Residency, Bushkill, PA
2026--- NYSS Summer Marathon
2026 — Marquis Who’s Who, Honored Listee
2025 — Hammer and Sky Artist in Residence, Nova Scotia, Canada
2025 — Arts to Hearts Project, Top 100 Emerging Artists
2025 — Washington Post Advisory Panel, Washington, D.C.
2025 — Marquis Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders
2025 — 1st Place, Expressions, Art Center of Corpus Christi, TX
2023, 2025 — Millay Arts Wintertide Residency, Austerlitz, NY
2023 — Featured Artist, Zensorial, Alta Arts, Houston, TX
2023 — 1st Place, Dimensions 50th National, Art Center of Corpus Christi, TX
2022 — Best in Show, Contemporary Gallery, Annapolis, MD
2020 — Grant Award, DreamWorks/Fineline Group, Fort Worth, TX
Collections
Museum of Encaustic Art, NM (Permanent Collection)
Museum of Wayne County, NY (Permanent Collection)
Aransas County Navigation District, TX
Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi, TX
ClearWell Dynamics Corporate Collection, TX
Private collections in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Bibliography (Selected)
Suboart Magazine, Lisbon, Portugal, Artist Feature, #61 May 2026. https://suboartmagazine.com/2026/05/21/suboart-magazine-nr-60-61/
AP press release: Marquis Who’s Who Honors M.E. Klesse for Excellence in Visual Art and Creative Innovation. April 2026. https://apnews.com/press-release/access-newswire/marquis-whos-who-honors-m-e-klesse-for-excellence-in-visual-art-and-creative-innovation-73a21d8fe87d182786915a3be7d7ce3e
World of Voices, Issue 2026, The Most Artistic Voice Redefining Creativity in 2026. https://theworldofvoices.com/most-artistic-voice-redefining-creative-arts/
Cortez, Michael, Voyage Magazine, Voyage Local Highlighter Series, Nov. 24, 2025. https://voyagehouston.com/interview/m-e-klesse-of-richmond-on-life-lessons-legacy-highlight.
Arora, Lisa, Women in Arts Network, Inside the Artworld of M.E. Klesse, Nov. 2025.https://womeninartsnetwork.com/a-studio-visit-and-interview-with-artist-m-e-klesse/
Ali, E., 2025, 100 Emerging Artists of 2025- Women's edition. Arts For Hearts Project Studio Visit Book. Barnes & Nobel, Amazon.
Kadan, Sophie, Featured Artist M. E. Klesse, Penn Journal of Arts and Sciences, upennjournalarts.org, Sept. 2025, https://www.pjasmag.org/featured-profile/m-e-klesse
Awara, Charuka, "Merging Research and Psychology in Art.", Arts to Hearts Project, August 24, 2025, https://artstoheartsproject.com/merging-research-and-psychology-in-art-m-e-klesse/
Milne, Grant, M.E.Klesse, Artist Talk Magazine, UK, Issue #38 July 30, 2025. https://www.artisttalkmagazine.com/issue-38
Brown, Samantha, CanvasRebel. Meet M E Klesse. June 21, 2024
Zhang, Saranna, “Please Do Touch- This Houston Art Exhibition Defies the Usual Expectations”, Paper City Magazine, August 2, 2023.
Lindner, Gina, “Bosscrit Critique and Curatorial Club”, Boston Art Review Vol. 10, Nov. 2022.
Professional Experience
2020–Present — VASE Judge, Texas Regional Competitions
2021–2023 — Juror & Interviewer, Watercolor Society of South Texas
Education
New York Studio School, New York, NY
Pratt Institute (SSPFA), Brooklyn, NY
Galeria Azur - Miami, Madrid, Buenos Aires
Coast Modern Gallery Rockport TX
Public Art
2026–2027 — It’s Our Pride, temporary installation, Metro Houston Midtown, Houston, TX
2021–2022 — Rockport Weathers the Storms, 10-piece temporary installation, Rockport-Fulton, TX
Solo/ Guest Exhibitions
2026 - Out of the Darkness, Guest Artist, Wind Way Gallery, Rockport TX
2025 - Realms: Solace for the Silent Scream, Solo, Coast Modern studio Gallery, Rockport, TX
2024 - Binge Watch: Coastal Birds in the landscape, Solo, Coast Modern studio Gallery, Rockport, TX
2023 - Walk a Mile in Their Shoes, featured artist, Alta Arts, Houston, TX
2022 - From Somewhere in the Middle, Solo, Ardest Gallery, Magnolia, TX
2021 - The New Normal, Solo installation: Coast Modern / Daily Grind/ Aransas Navigation District/ Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi, Rockport, TX
Group Exhibitions (selected)
2026 — INspiration, Encaustic Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM
2026 ---Salon Show, One Art Space (Artist Talk Magazine), Tribeca, NY
2023-26 — Texas Artists Exhibition, Beeville Art Museum, Beeville, TX
2023-26 — Wet Paint, Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI
2025 — International Encaustic Art Exhibit, Cooperstown, NY
2025 — Salon Spectacular, K Space Contemporary, Corpus Christi, TX
2025 — San Antonio Art League Museum, San Antonio, TX
2024 — Canadian Encaustic Conference, Ontario, Canada
2024 — Off the Walls, Arts Southeast, Savannah, GA
2024 — Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX
2024 — Elements of Contrast (TENacious), Artifex Gallery, Houston, TX
2023 — Walk a Mile in Their Shoes (Featured Artist), Alta Arts, Houston, TX
2023 — Museum of Encaustic Art, Los Cerrillos, NM
2022 — Malamegi Art Lab, Rome, Italy
2022 — Boomer Gallery, London, UK
2022 — Red Bluff Gallery, CA
2022 — New York Studio School Alumni Exhibition, NY
2021 — Album Cover, Whispers from Above, Austin, TX
2020 — 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
2020 — Pratt Institute Student Exhibition, NY
Awards & Residencies (selected)
2026 — Little Bushkill Rod & Gun Artist Residency, Bushkill, PA
2026--- NYSS Summer Marathon
2026 — Marquis Who’s Who, Honored Listee
2025 — Hammer and Sky Artist in Residence, Nova Scotia, Canada
2025 — Arts to Hearts Project, Top 100 Emerging Artists
2025 — Washington Post Advisory Panel, Washington, D.C.
2025 — Marquis Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders
2025 — 1st Place, Expressions, Art Center of Corpus Christi, TX
2023, 2025 — Millay Arts Wintertide Residency, Austerlitz, NY
2023 — Featured Artist, Zensorial, Alta Arts, Houston, TX
2023 — 1st Place, Dimensions 50th National, Art Center of Corpus Christi, TX
2022 — Best in Show, Contemporary Gallery, Annapolis, MD
2020 — Grant Award, DreamWorks/Fineline Group, Fort Worth, TX
Collections
Museum of Encaustic Art, NM (Permanent Collection)
Museum of Wayne County, NY (Permanent Collection)
Aransas County Navigation District, TX
Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi, TX
ClearWell Dynamics Corporate Collection, TX
Private collections in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Bibliography (Selected)
Suboart Magazine, Lisbon, Portugal, Artist Feature, #61 May 2026. https://suboartmagazine.com/2026/05/21/suboart-magazine-nr-60-61/
AP press release: Marquis Who’s Who Honors M.E. Klesse for Excellence in Visual Art and Creative Innovation. April 2026. https://apnews.com/press-release/access-newswire/marquis-whos-who-honors-m-e-klesse-for-excellence-in-visual-art-and-creative-innovation-73a21d8fe87d182786915a3be7d7ce3e
World of Voices, Issue 2026, The Most Artistic Voice Redefining Creativity in 2026. https://theworldofvoices.com/most-artistic-voice-redefining-creative-arts/
Cortez, Michael, Voyage Magazine, Voyage Local Highlighter Series, Nov. 24, 2025. https://voyagehouston.com/interview/m-e-klesse-of-richmond-on-life-lessons-legacy-highlight.
Arora, Lisa, Women in Arts Network, Inside the Artworld of M.E. Klesse, Nov. 2025.https://womeninartsnetwork.com/a-studio-visit-and-interview-with-artist-m-e-klesse/
Ali, E., 2025, 100 Emerging Artists of 2025- Women's edition. Arts For Hearts Project Studio Visit Book. Barnes & Nobel, Amazon.
Kadan, Sophie, Featured Artist M. E. Klesse, Penn Journal of Arts and Sciences, upennjournalarts.org, Sept. 2025, https://www.pjasmag.org/featured-profile/m-e-klesse
Awara, Charuka, "Merging Research and Psychology in Art.", Arts to Hearts Project, August 24, 2025, https://artstoheartsproject.com/merging-research-and-psychology-in-art-m-e-klesse/
Milne, Grant, M.E.Klesse, Artist Talk Magazine, UK, Issue #38 July 30, 2025. https://www.artisttalkmagazine.com/issue-38
Brown, Samantha, CanvasRebel. Meet M E Klesse. June 21, 2024
Zhang, Saranna, “Please Do Touch- This Houston Art Exhibition Defies the Usual Expectations”, Paper City Magazine, August 2, 2023.
Lindner, Gina, “Bosscrit Critique and Curatorial Club”, Boston Art Review Vol. 10, Nov. 2022.
Professional Experience
2020–Present — VASE Judge, Texas Regional Competitions
2021–2023 — Juror & Interviewer, Watercolor Society of South Texas
Education
New York Studio School, New York, NY
Pratt Institute (SSPFA), Brooklyn, NY
artwork sales: Saatchi Art- https://www.saatchiart.com/MEKlesse Artsy- M E Klesse, Galeria Azur- https://galeriaazur.art/artist/m-e-klesse/ Coast Modern Gallery- Rockport TX. SAALM- San Antonio TX. Saatchi Art- MEKlesselandscape