About

Maeve Klepper has been cultivating an abnormal and creative environment for herself her entire life. She grew up in a calm suburb of New Jersey, and then spent 3 years living at the Jersey Shore. This move provided new creative opportunities for her. When she found herself back in the suburbs inspired by contrasting her environment. She is influenced by her surroundings as she lives with antiques, oddities, and taxidermies. The idea of creating art which may cause discomfort or annoyance fascinates her, as she is not afraid to be different.

Maeve graduated with a BFA from William Paterson University. She has taken part in many art exhibitions, including the juried Here/Now student exhibition, winning “Best in Sculpture,” “Best in Painting," and “Best in Show.” Maeve uses creativity in her work life. She was a barista for three years, and took classes in New York City to perfect her latte art, which always puts a smile on customers’ faces. She also designed the website for a local Asbury Park gallery. Maeve desires every aspect of her life to be artistic, and to continues to expand her artistic interest. Maeve is also a tattoo artist, so she can share her art with those willing to wear it forever. She continues to show her permanent love for art by making her skin one of her own masterpieces.

Statement

I may paint for the masses, but I ignite the niche. Inspired by the technical mastery of Caravaggio and the emotional intensity of Francisco Goya, I create classical realist works with a modern twist. This artistic approach offers a familiar taste of what is admired in art history while introducing contemporary subject matter to bring something fresh to my audience.

My oil paintings explore a kind of beauty that others might typically overlook or discard. In my creative process, I often return to a quote by César A. Cruz: “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” My work frequently features grotesque imagery with palettes inspired by candlelit saturation, though I’m not afraid to embrace bold colors, surreal environments, and unconventional figures. I draw inspiration from personal experiences, as well as antiques, oddities, and taxidermy - both physically and emotionally.

I never present a direct narrative in my work. Instead, I aim to create thought-provoking pieces that spark conversation and invite independent interpretation. My work is meant to engage, unsettle, and open an ongoing dialogue about beauty, history, and transformation.