Kelly Stachura has always had an avid interest in photography. She began formal training in black and white photography at Barrington High School under the instruction of Jeffrey Dionesotes and received her first award in photography at a juried competition that same year. She continued her education in photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 2005.

Stachura has exhibited her photography locally, nationally, and internationally since 2001. She has been included in such prestigious exhibitions as "Young American Artists" in Bialystok, Poland, "Women's Works" in Woodstock, IL, and "Spring Salon" in New York City. Her work has also been featured in Pioneer Press, Daily Herald, Chicago Artists' News, and SpreadArt.

Stachura's work has earned several honors including the Purchase Award at the "William Rainey Harper College National Small Works Exhibition" (Juried by John Brunetti), Winner in Fiber at the "Collegiate Artists' Competition" (Juried by Michael A. Dunbar), Best in Show at "The Art Around Us" (Juried by Lee Stanton), and Curators' Choice at the "2006 Chicago Art Open Exhibition" (Juried by Carl Hammer, Jeanne Dunning, and Julia Rodrigues-Widholm). Stachura is currently represented by Carl Hammer Gallery in Chicago.