By Lesley Keays
Herald Columnist
“I know I am a strong and capable artist. How? I touch people’s lives in ways I don’t understand.”
Such are the affirming words of Kerry Ciotti, a Sanford artist who recently highly-rated contestant in “The People’s Artist”, an online contest hosted and presented by actor/artist Johnny Depp. The North American challenge served as a fundraising campaign benefiting The Art of Elysium, a nonprofit organization empowering creatives to help the less fortunate. It invited visual artists from the US and most of Canada— including painters, photographers, and sculptors—to showcase their craft for a chance at career-boosting opportunities.
Registration opened in early March and the contest closed to new entrants on May 13, 2026, with approximately 20,000 participating contestants.
Ciotti progressed through seven rounds of voting. She placed first in her group to reach the quarterfinals, finishing sixth overall out of the remaining 56 contestants, placing Ciotti in the top 1% of all entries.
Raised in Lake Mary, lifelong art muse Ciotti navigated its public school system in the 1980s through the mid-1990s. Ciotti credits several perceptive teachers who recognized that hers was an exceptionally creative mind that thrived outside the confines of traditional classwork. “They understood me,” Ciotti remembers fondly. “They understood why I was fidgety in class and couldn’t sit still. The clock was placed in the back of the classroom so students like myself didn’t have to scramble to finish. I could work at my own pace. Some of my teachers helped me work with, not against, my ways of learning, considered unorthodox at that time.”
Through interactive class activities, picture drawing, and word association games, Ciotti found alternative routes to standard education practices. She identified areas in which she found it difficult to excel, replacing them with areas where her natural talents shined.
Is she able to offer advice to young creative children in school now, struggling similarly? Can she advise their parents?
“Don’t buy the hype,” Ciotti counsels. “Failure is a perceived shame. It’s not real. When you lead with vulnerability, you make others feel comfortable,” declares Ciotti. “Part of the purpose of my life is to share my learning experiences to keep art open. It isn’t fixed, ever; it’s fluid,” she offers.
How did Ciotti find the contest, and decide to enter? “The competition found me,” she says with a laugh. “It kept popping up on my social media. The deadline to enter was approaching. I decided to compete.”
Soon after, Ciotti disclosed to friends and family that she was in the running to be “The People’s Artist.” Although the contest was conducted entirely online, Ciotti was shocked at the amount of new people who came to know her, galvanizing her latest effort. “I’m touched by the waves of support. Not only from people who know me, but art enthusiasts who do not. They followed me closely and voted actively, elevating my pieces via a digital platform.”
“I believe every single person is an artist. The contest was an opportunity for me to apply my distinct creative gifts that I’ve carried throughout my life. Through this competition, I was surrounded by encouragement everywhere I turned. While I didn’t place first in the contest, with the support I received, I feel I have won.”
“Overall, I feel optimistic about my placement in the competition, “Ciotti summarizes. “I received unanticipated exposure and shared my art with many people who may not have seen it before. I also sold a custom piece of art, secured new places to teach art next year, and I am looking for an outside studio/art gallery space in Orlando. Additionally, I raised a few thousand dollars for a worthy cause.”
For more examples of Kerry Ciotti’s art, visit https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/kerry-ciotti.
