Carolyn Mary Kleefeld

Born in Catford, England, Carolyn grew up in southern California, where she studied art and psychology at UCLA. In 1980, she moved to her cliff-side home high above the Pacific Ocean in Big Sur, California, where she studies, writes, and paints amidst the surrounding wilderness.

A passion for creative expression and a lifelong fascination with spiritual transformation has ignited Carolyn to become an award-winning poet, writer, and artist. A chapter in her ninth book, Soul Seeds: Revelations and Drawings, was nominated for the 2008 Pushcart Prize, and a poem in her tenth book, Vagabond Dawns, which includes a CD of Carolyn reading selected poems accompanied by Barry and Shelley Phillips, who have played for Coleman Barks in his readings of Rumi, was nominated for the 2009 Pushcart Prize. Carolyns first book, Climates of the Mind, was translated into Braille by the Library of Congress.

Carolyns books have been used as inspirational texts in universities and healing centers, and, commencing in the Fall of 2010, will be featured, along with the writings of seven other acclaimed women writers, in a permanent course, The Other Half of the Sky: Eight Women Writers, to be taught at Swansea University in Wales. Carolyns p...

Selected Art Honors and Awards

Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Pepperdine University:
Visions from Big Sur
In the first retrospective of Carolyns art work, over ninety four of her paintings and works on paper were showcased.
Sept 13, 2008 - Dec 14, 2008.

Featured in the MAPS Bulletin
Featured artist on cover of MAPS Bulletin and paintings in article about Laura http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v18n1/index.html

Nuclear Policy Research Institute
Painting: Invisible Landscape featured on cover of Nuclear Policy Research Institutes Holiday Card. 2005

Bodhi Tree Semi-Annual Newsletter
Art featured on front cover, The Bodhi Tree Semi-Annual Newsletter, 30th Anniversary Issue 2000

Christies
Art auctioned at Christies, as part of Dr. Timothy Leary Estate Sale 1998

Second Annual Arts Festival
Guest Speaker, Second Annual Arts Festival, Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California 1995

Gallerie Illuminati, Los Angeles, California
One-woman exhibit and poetry reading at Gallerie Illuminati, Los Angeles, California 1990

Dr. Timothy Leary
Art used on back cover of Dr. Learys book, Design for Dying

Numerous awards
Numerous gallery and museum awards and e...