Vicki Chelf was raised in Louisville, Kentucky. In her 20's she moved to the Laurentian Mountains to a small town of artisans and hippies in the Provence of Quebec, where she lived for thirteen years. There, she wrote what she believes is the first vegetarian cookbook published in French. This provided her the means to attend the Ringling School of Art and Design, where she graduated with a degree in Fine Art. Proceeding cookbooks allowed her to pursue fine art painting.Vicki also studied classical drawing with Charlie Miano at the Southern Atelier. She has had one person shows in Sarasota, Florida, Fairfield Iowa, Paris France and Val-David Quebec. Her work has been shown in the Galerie Martine Moisine in Paris, Meridian Gallery in London, Swanson Contemporary in Louisville. She worked for The Ringling Bros. Circus as a foam carver and scenic painter, and was the assistant to bronze master Jeff Marks, who cast the work of super realist Duane Hanson. Vicki is exclusively represented by ART AVENUE GALLERIES in Sarasota, Florida.