Kris Neely

Kristofer M. Neely (born November 21, 1978) is an American creative writer and visual artist in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. Neely currently serves as Professor of Art and Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at Spartanburg Methodist College.

Neely is known for his work titled "Guardian Angels," which was painted on pieces of wood that he had found. He has painted more than 10,000 guardians. which opened in September 2009.

Education Neely holds a B.A. degree from Wofford College (2002) with a major in religion, graduating summa cum laude, first in his class, Phi Beta Kappa, Presidential International Scholar, and recipient of the Walter E. Hudgins Award for Intellectual Courage, Creativity, and Vision. Neely taught 9th and 11th grade English at the Spartanburg Day School prior to his return to Wofford College.

As of 2017, Neely is at Spartanburg Methodist College teaching art.

Personal Neely served as writer-in-residence and editor for Hidden Voices, a community-based art project sponsored by The Hub City Writers Project, the Spartanburg Arts Partnership, and Piedmont Care, Inc. Hidden Voices: Reflections from an Affected Community was published in October 2005 by the Hub City Writers Project.

In his studio, he experiments with new media and finds objects to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional art.

In 2008, Neely presented his work in the Guild Gallery at the Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg. He also exhibited a series of works at Emory University in March 2011 titled "Into Your Hands: Post Modern Meditations on the Stations of the Cross." His oversize photographs of a Spartanburg water tower are on permanent display at the Spartanburg County Administration Building. In June 2006, he was invited to hang a two-month solo exhibition of paintings and photographs in the Martha Cloud Chapman Gallery at Wofford College. The exhibition was then moved for two months to the Spartanburg High School Gallery. Neely was named the 2005 Unsung Hero by Piedmont Care at the 2005 South Carolina HIV/STD Conference held in Greenville, South Carolina.