About Art Doll

Sherelle Speed — known artistically as The Art Doll — is a St. Louis-based surrealist painter whose work transforms personal pain into imaginative, dreamlike worlds. Her artistic journey began in 2015 after a traumatic experience pushed her to create an alternative reality through painting. A self-taught artist, Sherelle honed her craft through trial and error, studying the bold strokes and color palettes of visionaries like Basquiat and Picasso while developing a style uniquely her own.

The Art Doll’s signature aesthetic blends skeleton-flower backdrops with faceless portraits, inviting viewers to see themselves within her work while leaving room for each piece’s personality to speak. Inspired by dreams, the female form, and the subtleties of everyday life, her art is at once gothic, whimsical, and deeply personal.

Since rediscovering her childhood passion for art at age 25, Sherelle has become a relentless visionary, showcasing her work in over 100 festivals, galleries, and public spaces. Her murals can be found at St. Louis landmarks such as Chillax, The Selfie Room STL, STL Happy Hour Bar & Grill, and The Hive Cafe. She also shares her creations at The House of Art Doll, her tattoo shop on Delmar Loop, where art and community collide.

Why Art Doll?

The name Art Doll pays homage to her great-grandmother, affectionately called Momma Doll, and her lifelong love of dolls — from childhood collections of Barbies to being nicknamed “a real-life doll” by a coworker as an adult. Today, the name embodies her unique mix of gothic whimsy, surreal imagination, and striking creativity.

Based in Saint Louis, the Art Doll continues to create with authenticity, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to turning life’s challenges into lasting beauty.