Meet the Artist

Kelly William Poling achieved notoriety for his larger-than-life murals capturing local history. Poling, a resident of Chillicothe since 1997, incorporated the past into the town’s present. A realist painter who specializes in reproduction and enlargement of photographs, Poling’s renditions of days gone by provided the Chillicothe area with an original, living history.

In total, Poling created twenty-three murals and one ghost sign for downtown Chillicothe. Family was a big part of Poling’s work, and he often hid the names of his family members in his murals. See if you can spot wife, Angela; son, Gabriel or daughter, McKenna in any of the murals on your next stroll through town.

Poling displayed works in the MGM and Palace Station Casinos in Las Vegas, Nev., as well as the Josyln Art Museum in Omaha, Neb. He owned the Original Artworks by Kelly Art Gallery which featured his smaller scale art. 

Unfortunately, Kelly passed away in December, 2018. Gone but never forgotten, Main Street Chillicothe set up a foundation in his name to preserve his works for years to come. To donate towards this important cause, contact Main Street Chillicothe at (660) 646-4071 or stop by the office at 514 Washington St. 
 
As a Missouri Main Street Accredited program, Main Street Chillicothe is a recognized, leading program among the state network of more than 45 districts and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

 As a Main Street America™ Accredited program, Main Street Chillicothe is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All Main Street America™ Accredited programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by Main Street America.
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