Kaleigh Koss

Kaleigh Koss is a Jupiter, Florida-based sculptor who creates works of art designed to push the viewer out of their comfort zone and embody her edgy style and macabre, witty humor.

Koss began her art journey at age fourteen, when she became the first freshman accepted into the Jupiter High ceramics class. While other students favored wheel throwing, Koss quickly discovered a passion for hand-building, the art of sculpting with just the use of one’s hands and simple tools.

Koss is most recognized for her distinct, tentacle-y style, which is evocative of elements in the natural world like coral, sea life, and lava. At Palm Beach State College, Koss studied sculpture under Prof. Nazare Feliciano, during which time she was granted creative liberties outside of the syllabus due to her advanced technical skills. During her education, she earned an award from a university competition for her work, “F*ck Me, F*ck You,” pictured below.

This piece is emblematic of Koss’s style, which often juxtaposes the natural beauty of natural forms with unsettling, untethered human sensory organs. In this case, a curved middle finger is hidden in the center of the work. Her approach has been described as abstract realism, or the slight distortion of a real object to convey a different meaning.

Her sculptures range from 6 inches to over a foot tall, although her ultimate goal is to earn a commission for the creation of a large-scale installation in her signature style on the grounds of a cultural institution in Palm Beach County. When she is not in the studio sculpting, she enjoys painting, pursuing travel, and soaking up the rich creative culture of Palm Beach County.