Martha Kelly grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and now makes her home again in Memphis along with her woodworking husband Elmore Holmes. She is represented by Perry Nicole Fine Art in Memphis, and Seven Sisters Gallery in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and Katharine Butler Gallery in Sarasota, Florida. She has also had shows at locations including Christian Brothers University, Dyersburg State Community College, Theater Memphis, the Grove Grill, and Cecilia Lin Gallery and has participated in group shows at david lusk gallery of Memphis and NorDys Gallery of Birmingham, Alabama. Martha and Elmore maintain a home gallery of her paintings and his furniture.