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

Central Piedmont Community College - Charlotte, NC

Hybrid - Associates in Fine Arts - Visual Arts, Fall 2026

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

YAMS - Young Affiliates of the Mint, Charlotte NC, March 2026 - Present

Group Exhibitions

2026

Joy as Resistance, QC Family Tree - Charlotte, NC

City of Flowers, Westcott Studio in collaboration with the Harvey B. Gantt Center - Charlotte, NC

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

Noche Puerto Rico, PSL Charlotte, Bori Collective - Charlotte, NC

Where We Remember, La India – Charlotte, NC

Group Projects

2026

Novant Hummingbird Mural, Charlotte is Creative - Charlotte, NC

Charlotte Shout Art Search, Charlotte is Creative - Charlotte, NC

Grants and Awards

2026

Placemaking Grant, Charlotte Urban Design Center - Charlotte, NC

2025

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

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