Kelly Diaz has always been interested in the intersection between fine art, fashion, and pop culture. Today Kelly uses her fine arts background to bring to life all aspects of production design: for film, print, and live events. She lives and works in Long Island City – and loves it!

To take a look at her CV, click here.

For more information on private lessons at her Long Island City studio, including Sculptural Welding for Beginner’s and Portfolio Development for High School Students, click here.



After receiving her BS in Visual Arts from SUNY New Paltz, Kelly began a career as a Graphic Designer. Not satisfied sitting at a computer all day, her interests soon lead her to a career as a Visual Merchandiser, creating mannequin and window displays for Bloomingdale’s.

It was during this time that Kelly began studying with Long Island sculptor David Haussler. She was a natural and David encouraged her to enter her first sculpture, Prometheus Stole, into a juried exhibition – and it was accepted! She soon became David’s teaching assistant in his beginner’s sculptural welding class - the very class she started in.

While Kelly developed a love for sculpture and working with metal, she also developed a love for teaching. With that goal in mind, she earned a Master’s at Stony Brook University, and completed her New York State Certification in Art Education.

Balancing the life of a working artist, a teaching artist, and a working teacher, Kelly has enjoyed teaching students ranging in age from five years old to sixty-five, focusing on high school and college students. She has taught a wide range of subject matter, from basic collage to acrylic painting, from Adobe Photoshop to oxyacetylene welding. No matter what particular subject or type of pupil, Kelly thrives on fostering creative energy within her students, and loves to share the techniques and skills that she has garnered through her own experiences. For more information on private lessons at her Long Island City studio, including Sculptural Welding for Beginner’s and Portfolio Development for High School Students, click here.



Today Kelly Diaz uses her fine arts training to bring to life all aspects of production design: for film, print, and live events. A film enthusiast with a strong background in art history and passion for visual story-telling, set design has become a natural extension of Kelly’s skills and experiences. She has designed and assisted on short films, features, commercials, music videos, and print work. From low-budget studio work to “no”-budget location work, Kelly Diaz always looks forward to a fresh challenge.

For a list of projects, click here for a downloadable version of Kelly’s CV.