Tracey J. Russell was born and raised outside of Kansas City. She was influenced by her father, Tom Russell, a painter and art professor, and by her stepmother, an art  history professor. Tom was a Regionalist whose mentor was Thomas Hart Benton prior  to the second world war. He recently passed away at the age of 97, painting nearly to the end. Art has always been a big part of Tracey’s life. She received her BFA from Baker University in Kansas. While in college, she studied art  in France and Italy. After college, she moved to Denver to study design at the Colorado Institute of Art. After graduating from CIA, she realized her love of the fine arts, and took a position as an art consultant with C.G. Rein Galleries at 21st and Market, while continuing to paint. In 1993, she opened The Russell Gallery at 1660 Market Street.  During this time she married and had a daughter, Camille. Tracey closed The Russell Gallery in 1996. While raising her daughter outside of Morrison, she continued to paint and study. For more information about Tracey, or to get in contact, please visit her website at http://traceyrussell.com/