The Art
My practice explores the psychological aftermath of trauma, both individual and collective, through a multi-sensory, interdisciplinary approach. At its core, my work is an inquiry into the moral and emotional fractures left in the wake of social and political violence. I am particularly drawn to the silent, internalized struggles of both survivors and perpetrators: the dissonance of guilt, the residue of repression, and the mind’s quiet labor to reconcile damage inflicted or endured.
Emerging from this terrain are multi-sensory “artwork clusters” that weave together painting, sculpture, assemblage, and poetry. Each cluster originates in the emotional and psychological atmosphere surrounding its inception, allowing the work to act as both artifact and conduit. My oil and cold wax paintings, formed on unstretched canvas, mounted on rigid substrate, and floated within clear acrylic, offer a subtle dimensionality that echoes their layered emotional content. Sculptural forms, built from recycled plastic waste and finished with plaster, metal, and plant fiber, address themes of transformation, decay, and renewal. Encaustic works on board or cork incorporate botanical and fiber elements to create textured, tactile meditations on fragility and survival.
Music is integral to my process. As I work, internal compositions surface as auditory manifestations of emotional states, which crescendo during each piece’s completion. These compositions are often included in exhibitions, extending the work’s affective presence. In some installations, handcrafted ceramic “scent tubes” diffuse curated olfactory notes, further deepening the emotional and psychological dialogue between viewer, the object and the subject.
By integrating visual, tactile, auditory, and olfactory elements, I aim to construct immersive spaces where complex experiences, of damage, memory, guilt, resilience, can be more fully encountered. My work invites not only observation, but participation. It asks viewers to engage not just through perception, but through empathy.
Emerging from this terrain are multi-sensory “artwork clusters” that weave together painting, sculpture, assemblage, and poetry. Each cluster originates in the emotional and psychological atmosphere surrounding its inception, allowing the work to act as both artifact and conduit. My oil and cold wax paintings, formed on unstretched canvas, mounted on rigid substrate, and floated within clear acrylic, offer a subtle dimensionality that echoes their layered emotional content. Sculptural forms, built from recycled plastic waste and finished with plaster, metal, and plant fiber, address themes of transformation, decay, and renewal. Encaustic works on board or cork incorporate botanical and fiber elements to create textured, tactile meditations on fragility and survival.
Music is integral to my process. As I work, internal compositions surface as auditory manifestations of emotional states, which crescendo during each piece’s completion. These compositions are often included in exhibitions, extending the work’s affective presence. In some installations, handcrafted ceramic “scent tubes” diffuse curated olfactory notes, further deepening the emotional and psychological dialogue between viewer, the object and the subject.
By integrating visual, tactile, auditory, and olfactory elements, I aim to construct immersive spaces where complex experiences, of damage, memory, guilt, resilience, can be more fully encountered. My work invites not only observation, but participation. It asks viewers to engage not just through perception, but through empathy.
The Artist
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M. E. Klesse is a multi-sensorial artist based in Rockport, Texas, whose work has been exhibited internationally in cities including New York, London, Rome, Ontario, and many additional US major cities. Several of their pieces are part of permanent museum collections. Born in New Jersey, Klesse holds degrees in Philosophy from Rutgers University, as well as in Nursing and Management. Their professional background as a registered nurse and decades of volunteer work with alternatively advantaged individuals have deeply informed their understanding of the human psyche. This insight is further enriched by formal art studies at The Pratt Institute and the New York Studio School. Klesse's artistic practice encompasses oil, cold wax, and encaustic painting, along with tactile works in sculpture and assemblage. They create 'artwork-clusters', multi-sensory installations that integrate visual, tactile, and auditory elements, to engage viewers in dialogues about psychological trauma, survival, and the societal issues that contribute to these experiences.
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Representation
Artsy — Artist Profile
Coast Modern Gallery Rockport TX
Galeria Azur - Miami, Madrid, Buenos Aires
Saatchiart.com/meklesse: https://www.saatchiart.com/meklesse
Public Art
2026–2027 — It’s Our Pride, temporary installation, Metro Houston Midtown, Houston, TX
2021–2022 — Rockport Weathers the Storms, 10-piece 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 Gallery, Rockport, TX
2023 — Binge Watch, Solo, Coast Modern Gallery, Rockport, TX
2022 — From Somewhere in the Middle, Solo, Ardest Gallery, Magnolia, TX
2021 — The New Normal, Coast Modern / Daily Grind, Rockport, TX
Group Exhibitions (selected)
2026 — INspiration, Encaustic Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM
2026 ---Salon Show, One Art Space (Artist Talk Magazine), Tribeca, NY
2025 — International Encaustic Art Exhibit, Cooperstown, NY
2025 — Wig-Out (Invitational), K Space Contemporary, Corpus Christi, TX
2025 — San Antonio Art League Museum, San Antonio, TX
2025 — Wet Paint, Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI
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
2024 — Texas Artists Exhibition, Beeville Art Museum, Beeville, TX
2023 — Texas Artists Exhibition, Beeville Art Museum, Beeville, 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 — Marquis Who’s Who, Honored Listee
2025 — Hammer and Sky Residency, 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)
World of Voices, The Most Artistic Voice Redefining Creativity in 2026, coming soon.
Suboart Magazine, Lisbon, Portugal, Artist Feature, coming May 2026.
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
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
Wright, James, Voyage Houston, Meet Tenacious. June 25,2024
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
Artsy — Artist Profile
Coast Modern Gallery Rockport TX
Galeria Azur - Miami, Madrid, Buenos Aires
Saatchiart.com/meklesse: https://www.saatchiart.com/meklesse
Public Art
2026–2027 — It’s Our Pride, temporary installation, Metro Houston Midtown, Houston, TX
2021–2022 — Rockport Weathers the Storms, 10-piece 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 Gallery, Rockport, TX
2023 — Binge Watch, Solo, Coast Modern Gallery, Rockport, TX
2022 — From Somewhere in the Middle, Solo, Ardest Gallery, Magnolia, TX
2021 — The New Normal, Coast Modern / Daily Grind, Rockport, TX
Group Exhibitions (selected)
2026 — INspiration, Encaustic Art Institute, Santa Fe, NM
2026 ---Salon Show, One Art Space (Artist Talk Magazine), Tribeca, NY
2025 — International Encaustic Art Exhibit, Cooperstown, NY
2025 — Wig-Out (Invitational), K Space Contemporary, Corpus Christi, TX
2025 — San Antonio Art League Museum, San Antonio, TX
2025 — Wet Paint, Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI
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
2024 — Texas Artists Exhibition, Beeville Art Museum, Beeville, TX
2023 — Texas Artists Exhibition, Beeville Art Museum, Beeville, 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 — Marquis Who’s Who, Honored Listee
2025 — Hammer and Sky Residency, 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)
World of Voices, The Most Artistic Voice Redefining Creativity in 2026, coming soon.
Suboart Magazine, Lisbon, Portugal, Artist Feature, coming May 2026.
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
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
Wright, James, Voyage Houston, Meet Tenacious. June 25,2024
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.