Kelli Connell

Kelli Connell (born 1974) is an American photographer and educator known for her constructed images exploring themes of intimacy, identity, and the complexities of female relationships. Her work often features the same model portraying both subjects in a single photograph, creating a visual dialogue and challenging traditional notions of representation.

Connell's most recognized series, Double Life, explores these concepts by meticulously photographing a single woman in different roles and then digitally combining the images to create seemingly realistic portraits of two individuals. This technique allows her to examine the internal dynamics of relationships, mirroring the push and pull of connection and separation.

Her work has been exhibited internationally and is included in numerous public and private collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Connell is also a professor of photography at Columbia College Chicago. She holds a BFA from the University of North Texas and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her other notable projects include Picture Collection, which investigates the influence of photographic archives on memory and identity.