Bay Kelley has worked as a sports journalist, teacher, and artist, and is the founder of BOXCAR, a nonprofit in Opelika, Alabama. Beyond his professional roles, he has been a train-hopper, an organizer, and a do-gooder. His project, 52 Paintings for 52 Strangers, marked a turning point in his development as an artist. His current work brings painting into community spaces, creating opportunities for people to sit, share, and be seen.

At the Red Dirt Biennale, Kelley will begin a long-term portrait project with the goal of painting as many of Camp Hill’s 1,300-plus residents as possible. Residents will be invited to sit for an hour, choosing conversation or quiet as they prefer. He will photograph each sitter and take the unfinished portraits back to BOXCAR, where he will complete them as public painting projects during the following week. Over the coming years, he hopes to train a group of portrait artists to help expand this effort. Connecting Camp Hill and Opelika, the project combines grassroots organizing, the documentation of community life, and painting education. It makes the artistic process visible while building a growing record of the people who call Camp Hill home.