About the Artist
Rosanne Mckenney: Art That Connects Us
Art, Culture and Connections
Rosanne Lillard Mckenney
Artist Statement
Representational painter Rosanne Lillard Mckenney’s aim is to capture a simple moment of everyday life. She balances between revealing too much detail, and leaving parts unsaid. Inspired by Ancient Roman and Italian Renaissance painters and 19th century French, American and more recently Russian painters, she incorporates elements and techniques that made these artists distinctive. Working primarily in oil, she tells a story. Mckenney occasionally incorporates abstract elements and symbolism into her pieces. She chooses the figure as her principal subject, because human gestures and expressions can say so much. The stories explore the essence of human experiences, often unresolved emotions, common through many cultures.
Artist Biography
Raised by American parents in Italy, Rosanne learned to appreciate classical art.. At 18 years when she moved from her childhood home, the ancient city of Naples, she realized how important art had become in her daily life. In university, Mckenney did not formally study art but pursued art instruction at every opportunity . When she realized the void left by leaving Italy and its rich heritage of artistic beauty, she began a lifetime pursuit of painting, Over the course of 2 decades she studied what made these classical pieces appealing to many generations. Rosanne with her husband Jeff, moved to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi in 1990 where they started their family and the Christian charitable organization that would support a Hospital, Children’s Center and School in Honduras. In 2000 the Mckenneys moved their young family to Honduras where they have lived and worked starting a hospital and school on the edge of the jungle. Living among the poor in an art-poor environment, only intensified the need and appreciation for art. Rosanne paints in her studio in Honduras each day, before and after their busy schedule,. She teaches art History to Honduran students in person and on zoom when she is in the U.S.
Currently McKenney with her husband Jeff Mckenney a surgeon, share their time between Honduras and the Mississippi Gulf Coast with The Cornerstone Foundation,( Biloxi, MS). She paints every opportunity she has. For more information see www.rosannemckenney.com
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Awards and Memberships
Bold Brush Honorable mention 2018
Bold Brush Judges favorite 15% 2018, 2019,2020,2021,2022
2021 Ocean Springs Art Association Best of show
2021 Ocean Springs Art Association Academic art award
2022 Loab Peer Award, MS Art Colony
2022 1st place MS Art Colony
2022 Golden Loab Peer award , MS Art Colony
2023 Bold Brush Fav 15%
2023 Ocean Springs Art association Best of show in Oil Judge Susan Patton
2024 Best Drawing Award MS Art Colony
2024 Best of Show Becky Feder Award Ocean Springs, MS
2025 2nd Place MS Art Colony
2025 1st Place New Orleans Art association National show
2025 Juried into Atlanta Portrait Society Show, Fall
2025 Top 20 Modern Impressionism Magazine, November
Jurried into Museum and travel shows each year since 2018
Member of MS Art Colony since 2019
Southern MS Art League member since 2020
Associate member American Impressionist Society 2021
Associate member NOAPS (North American Oil and Acrylics Painters Society) 2022
Associate member Oil Painters Association since 2022
