Work History

Artist Statement

See complete work history at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamalithornell/

Worked for a number of organizations and agencies:

• IRIS Worldwide

  • Web Project Manager

• IDG

  • Web Project Manager

• National Geographic Learning

  • Sr. Marketing Web and Systems Manager

• Cramer Interactive

  • Web Project Manager

• Houghton Mifflin

  • Sr. Media Producer

• CitySoft

  • Project Manager, Developer, Designer

Artist Statement

I was born in 1974 and grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts, a part of Boston. I received a BFA from UMass Amherst focusing on graphic design, illustration, painting and digital arts and a Masters degree from Northeastern University, with a concentration in Digital Media and 3d Animation.  I lived in an an urban neighborhood, and my art has been a representation of that background.

Recent work has covered themes of heroes, including worldly figures like Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and artists like musicians, dancers and barbers. My strength is as an illustrator and other works focus on pen and ink, lively movement, extreme gesture and energy. Older works included characters made up of African sculpture, brought to life, some reflected in murals and a children’s book.

I self-published a children’s book in 2020, titled The Alley, Dadisi’s Journey Home. This story was the continuation of projects completed in school, including an independent study course to create a comic book about alley cats, followed in graduate school by a short, rough film called an animatic. The book was published in 2020 and continues the story where the film leaves off, following a young cat’s adventure through the Boston area, as he tries to find his way home.

Later that year, I had the honor of being selected to create portraits for banners that were placed in downtown Lexington, Massachusetts, during Black History month. The honorees were selected because of their historical significance and connection to Lexington. The project took several months to complete and was featured in local television and newspaper stories. It also inspired other similar projects, with the goal of spotlighting historical figures in other communities. A new larger, related project is currently underway in Boston.

I have worked as a Graphic Designer, Web Designer and Developer and Project Manager. I served on the board of a local non-profit, Sociedad Latina. I continue to work as a freelance designer developer through Acc-Visual.

Artistically, I plan to continue exploring themes that remind people of the beauty of the Boston area, from tough and gritty to picturesque and fun. I hope to create familiar images of people and landscapes which anyone can relate to. I will also develop more children’s books as these combine my interests in graphic design and fine art/illustration. Lastly, I hope to find ways to give back by teaching how to use graphic design and 3d software applications.