Artist Spotlight: Celeste Finelli

This month, we are proud to feature the artist Celeste Finelli whose emotionally rich subjects seem ready to leap off the page at any moment!  From navigating personal challenges to discovering her style, Celeste’s story is a wonderful testament to the healing power of art. Perseverance and humor are at the heart of her creative journey. Celeste shares about the role that art has played in shaping her life choices. Her work beautifully captures the result of her authentic self-expression and serves as a means of inspiration to viewers.

Early Life

Celeste grew up in a military household; born in North Carolina to parents from New York City. Her mother is an artist, and her father is an aerospace engineer. 

“I got the best of both worlds in regards to education and influence,” she reflects. 

She attended Catholic school until grade six, then switched to public school after her father retired from the Marine Corps. It was during this time that her artistic voice began to flourish, through her art, clothing, hair, and music.

Aspirations and Education

Celeste has crafted her life with intention and made the most of her lived experiences. Her goals for herself proved to be different from the path her parents had envisioned for her. She originally had her heart set on majoring in art during college but was discouraged from doing so.

 “I was told that I was not allowed to be an art major,” she says.

Determined to follow her passion, she switched her major in secret. When her father found out, he insisted on a double major. To honor her creative calling and simultaneously respect her parents' wishes, she chose psychology in addition to art. This decision allowed her to follow her personal goals and build a foundation for her future career.

Near the end of college, Celeste was diagnosed with severe anxiety and depression.  During this difficult time, she discovered that creating art had become a catalyst for healing. This revelation led her to pursue a graduate degree in art therapy.

“I figured out that my art was sort of a coping mechanism for me and I wanted to share that with other people in my community that were struggling,” she says.

Medium of Choice

Celeste considers graphite the superior art medium and uses it as her primary tool when creating her artworks. She values the precision and detail that graphite allows and has naturally gravitated toward drawing over other art forms.

 “I’m someone who is really focused on detail, and I love that you can get so specific with graphite,” she says. 

Inspiration and Motivation to Create

Her unique creations highlight her creativity, resilience, and artistic voice. In a sense, Celeste is her own muse.

 “I do a lot of introspective work in therapy and am very in-tune with my own thoughts and feelings, so my art is a representation of how I am feeling in that moment,” she explains.

Celeste uses humor as a tool while drawing, often aiming to make herself laugh through her work. She sees art as a means to cope with her depression and anxiety by evoking emotion and relaying how she feels. Her work is not only visually compelling, but its power to resonate deeply with others who face similar struggles, offers emotional comfort.

Words of Wisdom

She advises other artists to prioritize how they feel during the creative process and find joy in it rather than focus on how the final result looks. 

“You want to love the act of creating, and not get fixated on what it’s ‘supposed’ to be,” she says.

Celeste’s story doesn’t just complement her work—it reminds us why art is so important and meaningful in our daily lives. 

We are excited to share that Celeste has recently opened up her own Spotify shop, where she is now selling her amazing artworks! To experience her work firsthand, check out her portfolio, explore her online shop and keep up with her on social media:

Portfolio: https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/YGIiK317oFHfm

Shop: https://ccmonstr.myshopify.com/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ccmonstr?_t=ZT-8ySQmnECiPP&_r=1

If you have a story to share or would like to nominate an artist you admire for an upcoming Artist of the Month Spotlight, send your inquiry to Quil Castro via email: bewilderingwalls@gmail.com