Kelly Allen, MSOT, OTR/L MFA

Position

Art Editor

Files

Biography

Kelly Allen, MSOT, OTR/L MFA, is an occupational therapist at The Right Door for Hope, Recovery and Wellness, the community mental health agency for Ionia County, MI, where she serves children and adults with Autism, developmental disorders, and sensory processing challenges. Previously, she worked in the outpatient pediatric and geriatric settings after graduating from Western Michigan University in 2019. A lifelong artist, Kelly has worked as an internationally exhibiting professional fine artist, art teacher for individuals of all ages and abilities, presenter, muralist, apparel designer, art gallery assistant director, and the creator/director of WiseMaker Creative Reuse Center & Art Studio in Grand Rapids, MI. She earned her MFA with an emphasis in Drawing in 2008 from Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University and a BA in Painting from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2003. She was featured in OJOT’s September 21 Spring Issue, Vol. 9, Number 2, and has artwork published in art textbooks and fine art magazines.

In her current role as an occupational therapist, Kelly enjoys making her own adaptive tools and teaching aides for use during interventions to suit her clients’ specific needs and abilities. She also continues to exhibit her artwork at LaFontsee Gallery in Grand Rapids, participate in live art-making fundraisers, and paint murals locally. She has a passion for creating art with the special needs community through Artists Creating Together in Grand Rapids and previously taught and volunteered at the world-renowned Creative Growth Art Center in Oakland, CA. Kelly has found the making of arts and crafts to be an extremely meaningful occupation since early childhood.