Kris Keys is an interdisciplinary artist and fashion designer who captures her audience with swift, vibrant, and sultry strokes of watercolor paint. Her diasporic work tells stories through a mixture of historical context, fashion, and art. Kris’ journey began in Memphis, Tennessee in the mid 80s when her family found out about a genetic blood disorder through her abnormal blood smears. While receiving treatments for this illness at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Kris used watercolors as a method of relaxation. Years later Kris embarked upon a career in fashion illustration and textile design, creating watercolor art for brands such as NARS Cosmetics, The Peninsula Hotel Tokyo, Brown’s Hotel London, The Highline New York, and Kamalaya Wellness Spa Thailand to name a few. Following her career in illustration, Kris created a line of paintings and printed garments entitled Hematology to tell the story of blood disorders that unknowingly affects millions of people around the world.

Following this project, Kris embarked upon a journey tracing the roots of this blood disorder starting with a trip to Mississippi’s rural towns to capture her family’s story. It was then that she learned about the connection of flowers to her lineage, and the project that’s still unfolding, Genealogy was born. Within this project, Kris is teaching floral painting experiences within botanical gardens and museums globally. Past partnerships include San Francisco Botanical Garden, Black Seeds Urban Farm Memphis, National Humanities Center and The Arboretum Los Angeles.

Her work has been featured on CNN, University of the Arts London, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and The Lancet Haematology medical journal.