Kelsey Critchfield-De Ferrari

La Rosa Benedetta - "The Blessed Rose"
Shrouded in a crimson veil adorned with intricate lace she stands as a symbol of sacred beauty and quiet strength.  Her gaze is serene yet piercing, as though she carried centuries of wisdom within her silence.  Surrounded by blooming roses and deep red dahlias - symbols of love and passion - she emerges from a timeless garden framed by gothic arches and divine light.
Set against a distant landscape of rolling hills and hidden sanctuaries, she becomes both guardian and muse, a living icon suspended between the earthly and the eternal.

Mourning is a process that everyone goes through at some point in their lives, whether it’s for the loss of a loved one or for wasted time and dreams. It is a natural response and can help us to come to terms with our grief.

Although the shroud of mourning can be a very difficult and painful experience, it can also be eye-opening and beautiful and one that can help us appreciate life more.

A "burning" desire transcends mere wishes, wants, or dreams. While these stem from the human individual, this particular desire emanates from our spirit, seemingly driven by our Higher Self. It ignites our purpose and values, infusing them with vitality and direction.

30 x 24 in., oil on canvas

AVAILABLE through Poetic Tiger Gallery

16 × 16 in., unframed, 22.5 × 22.5 in., framed

Oil on canvas

"Wings of Decay" explores the delicate balance between life and death, beauty and decomposition. The juxtaposition of the skull and moth symbolizes the inevitable passage of time and the transformation that follows. The skull reminds us of our mortality, while the moth, often associated with nocturnal mystery and the soul's journey, represents the fleeting nature of life and beauty.

8 x 8 inch., oil on wood panel

AVAILABLE through Poetic Tiger Gallery

10 × 8 in., unframed, 11 ½ x 8 ¾ in., framed

Oil on canvas

Inspired by the poem, Black Cat by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 – 1926)

A ghost, though invisible, still is like a place
your sight can knock on, echoing; but here
within this thick black pelt, your strongest gaze
will be absorbed and utterly disappear:

just as a raving madman, when nothing else
can ease him, charges into his dark night
howling, pounds on the padded wall, and feels
the rage being taken in and pacified.

She seems to hide all looks that have ever fallen
into her, so that, like an audience,
she can look them over, menacing and sullen,
and curl to sleep with them. But all at once

as if awakened, she turns her face to yours;
and with a shock, you see yourself, tiny,
inside the golden amber of her eyeballs
suspended, like a prehistoric fly.

Inspired after The Veiled Virgin marble statue by Giovanni Strazza (1818-1875), she sits beneath a heart with a dagger pierced through it.

Spiritually, crows represent transformation, rebirth, and destiny. Just as the crow sits between the two candles with one lit and the other in smoke, symbolizing a significant shift or change.

A self-portrait showing my aesthetic and authenticity. As an artist, I believe the work you create can be heavily influenced by the way you dress and style yourself - it is unique to you.

11x14” oil on canvas

I have always been interested in Greek mythology and goddesses. Hecate stood out to me because of her dark, witchy aesthetic. She is the goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night and moon, necromancy and ghosts. She has often been depicted as a protector from evil spirits and a gatekeeper between both worlds. I wanted to create my own modern portrayal of her with a serpent wrapped around her arm, which is one of the few animals sacred to her.

Although I am not from a Catholic background, I have always loved the symbol and purity of Virgin Mary. I remember visiting Europe for the first time many years ago and walking into several churches seeing different depictions of her, all which were very beautiful and emotionally-charged. I wanted to create my own modern version of Mary using symbols throughout art history of her dressed in red and with a gold halo over her head.

30x40” oil and gold leaf on canvas