Kelly Rae Daugherty’s portraits exist at the intersection of encounter and revelation. Her sitters hold a charged stillness — poised between disclosure and restraint. Working in the lineage of psychological portraiture, she balances intimacy with precision, revealing the quiet shimmer of being. Through light, gesture, and silence, Daugherty transforms the familiar into the numinous. Her color work evokes presence through atmosphere and tone, while her black-and-white portraits distill that same presence to its most essential form — light and psyche intertwined, revealing the soul’s structure beneath the surface.

Portrait of a young woman with dark hair, wearing a black top and patterned skirt, standing against a dark background.
A woman with long, wavy auburn hair wears a white blouse with decorative buttons and a black dress bodice, against a dark gray background.
Close-up portrait of a person with short reddish-blonde hair and blue eyes, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.
Close-up of a woman with dark brown hair and bangs, wearing makeup with bold eyeliner and red lipstick.
A young woman with curly blonde hair and makeup, sitting on a wooden chair, wearing a pink and black ruffled dress with tiger-striped tights and black shoes, holding a white wand and sitting inside a decorated space with green, gold, and pink fabric,
A woman with short, reddish-brown hair and light skin standing in front of reflective surface, with some dried plant or grass on her lips, wearing a beige sleeveless top, a necklace, and a bracelet.
A woman with blonde hair biting and holding a wooden stick over a white paper-covered surface, with a black and white poster in the background.
A young woman with curly blonde hair sitting on a dark, patterned couch, wearing a white satin top and patterned pants, with one arm resting behind her head and looking into the camera.
A woman with dark lipstick, nose piercing, and bandages on her face and neck, lying down with her arm raised behind her head and dark hair styled with shaved sides.
A woman with red curly hair sitting on a yellow patterned couch, her head bowed and kneeling with her hands on the couch, wearing a sleeveless green and white floral dress.
Man lying on bed with a cat on his chest, petting it.
Black and white portrait of a woman with intense gaze, dark hair, and wearing a dark top or dress.
Person with curly hair and light skin, wearing a beige garment, is surrounded by dried branches and flowers, creating an artistic, natural setting.
A person with short blond hair wearing a cream-colored blouse with a lace-up front, posing with arms raised over head against a dark background.
A woman with short brown hair and gray eyes, wearing a silver earring and light makeup, looking off to the side while holding a sheer gray fabric near her face.
Two women with face makeup close together, one with a black hat and striped top, and the other with short hair and a white tank top, holding each other's faces and leaning in.
A woman with pink hair, freckles, and a serious expression, wearing a tattered red and black corset and black bottoms, standing in front of a wooden door.
A woman with dark curly hair and light-colored eyes gazes at the camera, partially obscured by a sheer green fabric she holds up with her right hand. She is wearing a light-colored top and makeup including blue eyeshadow and lipstick.