Chelsey grew up in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. As a Junior in High School, Chelsey discovered her love of art in a general art class. Inspired and supported by her teachers, she pursued higher education in the arts. Chelsey graduated Cum Laude with her BFA in Painting, with a Minor in Art History, from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2006. During her undergraduate studies, Chelsey completed her Art History Independent Study in Olymbos and Athens, Greece, her first experience working as an artist abroad. Following this, she completed a semester abroad in Wroclaw, Poland, attending the Academy of Fine Arts. She went on to receive her Master of Arts in Teaching, graduating Cum Laude in 2007 from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
After school, Chelsey was an artist in residence at a Ab Uno, a printmaking studio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She also worked as an artist in residence and co-teacher at St. Louis Artworks, a community arts organization for at-risk youth aged 13-19 years old, designing sculptures to be installed in a public park, and guiding and encouraging these young artists.
Chelsea has years of additional experience as a special education art teacher. During these years, she worked steadily on her personal body of artwork, and had many opportunities to work on commission.