A “people person” by nature, Kelleher’s work has taken her from studying the mind – as a psychologist in the 70′s – to studying and sculpting the whole person. Her pieces are well known for physical likeness, as well as revealing a person’s character. “I always loved sketching, and I’ve always loved the studying the human figure,” she said.

Kelleher takes pride in her work with children, capturing them “just being themselves in natural, casual poses.” For hours, days and weeks, she pinches, presses and forms a mound of clay into a sweet girl with an upturned nose or a young boy whose eyes expose his hunger for knowledge.

Whether Kelleher’s finished pieces make Fathers cry or children squeal with delight, they almost always steal a moments breath.