The Art
My work delves into the subconscious struggle born from the complex interplay of social and political trauma, and the mind’s ongoing effort to reconcile the damage either inflicted or endured. Drawing from personal experience and observation, I explore the lingering tension left in the wake of oppression, restraint, and abuse, both the suffering of survivors and the often overlooked psychological decay experienced by perpetrators. These moral and ethical fractures are at the core of my artistic inquiry.
I create multisensorial 'artwork clusters' composed of paintings, sculpture, assemblage, and poetry. These pieces emerge from the emotional and psychological atmosphere present during the inception of each idea. Oil and cold wax paintings are shaped on unstretched canvas, mounted on rigid substrate, and framed on clear acrylic panels to produce a subtle three-dimensionality. Sculptures evolve from recycled plastic waste and are completed with layers of plaster, metal, and plant fiber. Encaustic works, built on board or cork, incorporate fiber and botanical elements to form textured, tactile mood-pieces.
Music is an integral part of my process. As I work, a mental composition begins to play and then grow in clarity and volume until it reaches a fever pitch during the completion phase. This music is often shared as part of the installation. In some exhibitions, the sensory experience is extended through 'scent tubes', handcrafted ceramic vessels that hold unique olfactory notes meant to enrich the emotional and psychological dialogue between the work and the participant.
By combining visual, tactile, auditory, and olfactory elements, I aim to create a deeply immersive space where the viewer can confront the fragile complexities of damage, guilt, memory, and resilience. My work invites participation not only through perception, but through empathy.
I create multisensorial 'artwork clusters' composed of paintings, sculpture, assemblage, and poetry. These pieces emerge from the emotional and psychological atmosphere present during the inception of each idea. Oil and cold wax paintings are shaped on unstretched canvas, mounted on rigid substrate, and framed on clear acrylic panels to produce a subtle three-dimensionality. Sculptures evolve from recycled plastic waste and are completed with layers of plaster, metal, and plant fiber. Encaustic works, built on board or cork, incorporate fiber and botanical elements to form textured, tactile mood-pieces.
Music is an integral part of my process. As I work, a mental composition begins to play and then grow in clarity and volume until it reaches a fever pitch during the completion phase. This music is often shared as part of the installation. In some exhibitions, the sensory experience is extended through 'scent tubes', handcrafted ceramic vessels that hold unique olfactory notes meant to enrich the emotional and psychological dialogue between the work and the participant.
By combining visual, tactile, auditory, and olfactory elements, I aim to create a deeply immersive space where the viewer can confront the fragile complexities of damage, guilt, memory, and resilience. My work invites participation not only through perception, but through empathy.
The Artist
|
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, Canada, and many other US major cities. Several of their pieces are part of permanent museum collections. Born in Point Pleasant, 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.
|
Public Installations:
Detroit: Art for Environmental Justice
2025 Norwest Gallery, Detroit, MI
Metro Houston: It's Our Pride
2025-2026 Midtown Houston TX
Rockport: The New Normal
2021-2022 Rockport TX
Solo Shows:
2025 (Nov) Silent Scream
Coast Modern Gallery
Rockport TX
2023 Binge Watch
Coast Modern Gallery
Rockport TX
2022 From Somewhere in the Middle
Ardest Gallery
Magnolia, TX
2021 Rockport Weathers the Storms
Rockport TX
Select Awards:
2026- Little Bushkill Rod and Gun Artist in Residence- Bushkill, PA
2025- Washington Post Advisory Panel- D.C.
2025- Arts to Hearts Project, Top 100 Emerging Artists 2025
2025- 1st Place- Expressions, Art Center of Corpus Christi, TX
2025- Marquis Who's Who of Emerging Leaders
2025- Hammer and Sky Artist in Residence. Nova Scotia, CAN.
2025- Wintertide, Millay Arts, NY
2023: 1st Place- Dimensions 50th National- Corpus Christi TX
2023: Bronze Award- Global Painting Conclave
2023: Wintertide, Millay Arts, NY
2022: Malamegi Lab Art Prize finalist, Rome Italy
2022- Talent Award- "6th Abstract"- Art Show International. L.A.
2022- Best in Show- "All Abstraction". Contemporary Art Gallery, Annapolis MD
2021- Gallery of Dreams - grant award
Collections:
Museum of Encaustic Arts - permanent collection, Cerillos NM
Museum of Wayne Co. - permanent collection, NY
ClearWell Dynamics Corporate, Bryan TX
Catholic Dioceses of Corpus Christi, TX
Aransas Co. Navigation District, Rockport TX
private collections in U.S., U.K., Canada
Select Group Shows:
2026- Salon Show- Artist Talk Magazine- One Art Space- Tribeca NYC
2025 YICCA International Contest of Contemporary Art, Participant- Venice, Italy
2025- small group, members- San Antonio Art League and Museum- S.A. TX
2025- Marfa Invitational- social media blitz
2024-Canadian Encaustic Conference- Ontario Canada
2024- South Texas Art League- Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX
2024: Arts Southeast- Off the Walls- Savannah GA
2024: Elements of Contrast- Artifex Gallery Houston
2023- Dimensions International- Corpus Christi- 1st Place
2023- Museum of Encaustic Art- Global Warming is Real - museum acquisition-Cerillos NM
2023-The Alta Arts- Featured Artist- Houston, TX
2023- Beeville Museum of Arts - Texas Artist's Exhibition
2022- Malamegi Art Lab- Rome, Italy
2022- Boomer Gallery- London Bridge Tower, Tooley St. United Kingdom
2022-Bella Botegga- Magnolia TX -Guest Artist
2022- Spring 2022 -SVAC Manchester VT
2022- 56th Annual National Drawing and Small Sculpture Show- Del Mar College
2022- Artsy: New York Studio Schools Alumni Show
2021- Mil Milagros- K-Space Contemporary, Corpus Christi, TX
2021- Botanicals Las Laguna- LA
2021- Brushes on the Beach- G. Lee Gallery, Galveston
2021-3 person printmaking show at Diebel Studio- Rockport TX
Bibliography
Ali, E., 2025, 100 Emerging Artists of 2025- Women's edition. Arts For Hearts Project Studio Visit Book.
Kadan, Sophie, Featured Artist M. E. Klesse, Penn Journal of Arts and Sciences, upennjournalarts.org, August 2025
Milne, Grant, M.E.Klesse, Artist Talk Magazine, UK, Issue #38 July 30, 2025
Wright, James, Voyage Houston, Meet Tenacious, https://voyagehouston.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-tenacious June 25,2024
Brown, Samantha, CanvasRebel, https://canvasrebel.com/meet-m-e-klesse/, https://canvasrebel.com/starting-your-creative-career-14/ June 21, 2024
Wright, James, Sensing Change, Voyage Houston Magazine,https://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-tenacious-artists-artists-creative-connection-m-e-klesse-of-houston/
Zhang, Saranna, “Please Do Touch- This Houston Art Exhibition Defies the Usual Expectations”, Paper City Magazine, August 2, 2023.
Ellis, Brittany, “Multi-Zen-Sory Art Show”, Create Magazine Pod Cast, July 31, 2023.
Lindner, Gina, “Bosscrit Critique and Curatorial Club”, Boston Art Review, Vol. 10, Nov. 2022.
artwork sales: Coast Modern Gallery- Rockport TX. https://www.saatchiart.com/MEKlesse https://www.artpal.com/meklesse