Kelly McConnaughey was born in Huntsville, AL and graduated with honors in 2010 from Boston College, where she studied Studio Art and Philosophy. There, she painted her thesis on Emotion and Sexuality, received the Stylus Award for best contribution to Boston College's literary magazine publication, headlined as featured artist in the Spring 2010 Student Show, and was awarded the Richard and Marianne W. Martin Memorial Award in recognition of high academic and creative achievement in Studio Art. She has facilitated the collaborative creation of 7 community youth murals in Alabama, Peru, South Dakota, and Detroit. McConnaughey taught art in Yungay, Peru and Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD, where she lived and worked for three years while taking classes in Lakota language and traditional Lakota art skills. In 2013 she moved to Detroit to work as Creative Director and Curriculum Illustrator of Superhero Training Academy, a local nonprofit, but continues painting as often as possible.