Kelso Ayala

Artist. Curator. Event coordinator

Kelso Ayala is a Charlotte-based artist, curator, and event coordinator whose work centers on culture, memory, and community connection. With a background in photography and ongoing studies in graphic design, their interdisciplinary practice bridges visual art and experiential gathering. Through exhibitions, curatorial projects, and community events, Kelso cultivates spaces that emphasize storytelling, accessibility, and collective remembrance.

Education

Academy of Art – San Francisco, CA

Online – Associates in Photography, Fall 2017 – Winter 2019

Employment History

Contract - Event Coordinator, Manifest Market, Charlotte NC, March 2026 – September 2026

Curriculum Vitae

Professional Affiliations

Rhizome Collective Member, QC Family Tree, Charlotte NC, February 2026 – Present

Group Exhibitions

2026

Spilling: Beyond the Palette, QC Family Tree – Charlotte, NC

Sacred Earth/Sacred Responsibilities, Gallery at Morning Star – Charlotte, NC

Exist. Resist. Persist, Obra Collective – Charlotte, NC

2025

Eat Like an Artist: Winter Solstice, Summit Coffee on the Plaza - Charlotte, NC

Curatorial Projects

2026

Where We Remember, La India – Charlotte, NC

Grants and Awards

2025

The Kitty Garner Energizer Initiative Cohort, Love Bolt – Charlotte, NC

H.U.G Grant, Charlotte Is Creative – Charlotte, NC