"Montezuma Hot Springs" Painting

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.