ABOUT — Annalisa Barelli (born 1983, Kansas City)  reside Pacific Northwest USA & Italy

“I adhere to the belief that everyone is an artist. A great impetus for my own art is to inspire others to create in the way so many mentors have inspired me. There is so much healing power in the act of creating and so much value to be discovered in humanities art.

As a child I was always making things and I spent countless hours surrounded by art. Galleries opened my blooming mind and I found solace in the quiet corridors inside. Picture books and imaginative stories offered me expansion into something more and writing has always been my way to make meaning. As a young woman, I studied creative writing and fine art in the United States and Italy. I found ingenuity in American Art and passion and light in Italian Renaissance Art. Through my studies and travels, a deep respect for the craft grew. I find freedom in abstract expressionism. I find  grounding in illustration and design. And I have great appreciation for writing, music, symbolism and story. 

The wilderness is one of my greatest muses as nature keeps me connected and centered in the present. When not making art and weaving story, I savor my time with my family. Writing gives my busy mind a place for stillness. Spilling color brings joy to my soul and sound connects my heart to the greater living orchestra.”

Present – Autumn 2024

I am taking a break from showcasing and selling my visual art to prepare some new works of illustrated fiction. I am excited to step into the role of children’s author + illustrator and I look forward to sharing stories soon. More details to come and thanks for stopping by!