Kevin Alan McKelvey

Kevin was a devoted husband, father, brother, son, friend, writer, farmer, artist, and professor who enriched the lives of many with his unwavering dedication to the people and places he loved. A proud Hoosier, Kevin was born on May 11, 1978, and spent his life nurturing communities across Indiana and beyond.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from DePauw University in 2000 and his Master of Fine Arts (terminal degree) in poetry, editing, and publishing from Southern Illinois University in 2004. As a professor at the University of Indianapolis, Kevin inspired thousands of students through his teaching and mentorship. He was a passionate advocate for students, environmental stewardship, creative placemaking, and social practice art—endeavors he pursued with boundless energy and heart. Kevin is the founder of Etchings Press, a student-run publication. Kevin co-founded the Master of Arts in Social Practice program at UIndy, which was a graduate degree focused on using artistic practices to address social issues and engage with communities. He also established the UIndy Gardens to grow fresh vegetables on campus to address food access and scarcity in the area. Through these projects, Kevin developed strong and lasting relationships with so many students and community partners.

Kevin shared his art through numerous poetry publications, social practice art, installations, performance, and creative placemaking. Kevin embodied the power of perseverance, submitting his poems and collections for publication, researching and revising when they were rejected, and editing until he got it right. His perseverance led him to ultimately publish two books, Dream Wilderness (2018) and Indiana Nocturnes, with Curtis Crisler (2020); a chapbook Dream Wilderness (2011); an essay “Eight Gardens: On Gardening as Social Practice”; and 27 poems. He also shared his creative work through commissions and public exhibitions, including an Eclipse haiku hung in 2024 in Greencastle, IN, “on garlic cheeseburger,” which felt like a full circle crowning achievement.

As a young child, Kevin’s family taught him to have a deep appreciation for gardening, which ignited his passion for building community through food, gardening, and farming. As an adult, Kevin used gardening as his medium for his art and to show his love for others. In partnership with various organizations, he built gardens to better his community. And at home, he created gardens to nourish his family and instill his love for the earth in his children.

While Kevin had many accomplishments through his work, his heart was truly his family. Kevin always put his family first. He spent quality time with his children, listening to them, and encouraging their passions. He cheered at show choir, played hours of Fortnite, and cast countless lines in nearby fishing holes. With his family, he shared a deep love of all things Star Wars, often engaging in deep discussions about the Force or the best lightsaber battles. He spent quality time gardening and building with his father and nurtured his relationship with his sister through daily conversations about nothing and everything. His mother and his Grandma Cauble had a profound impact on him, and he carried them in his heart through everything he did.

He is survived by his wife, Lakshmi Hasanadka, and their three children—Supriya (16), Nikhil (14), and Kiran (12); his father, Robert Alan McKelvey; his sister, Lee Anne McKelvey and nieces, Emily (3) and Natalie (2); and a wide circle of dear friends, family, students, and colleagues. Kevin was preceded in death by his mother, Sue Cauble McKelvey, and his grandparents Jack and Betty McKelvey and Lee and Margaret Cauble.

A tribute to honor Kevin’s life and impact will be held at 6:00 PM on Friday, July 11, at Big Car Collaborative’s Tube Factory artspace, 1125 Cruft Street, in Indianapolis—a space that reflects his lifelong commitment to art, nature, community, and connection.

Kevin was complex and beautiful. His interests were vast and varied. Kevin’s spirit lives on in every seed he planted, every student he taught, and every community he helped grow. He will be profoundly missed and forever remembered.

In lieu of flowers, family and friends are welcome to contribute to a fund for Kevin’s three children. To contribute, please mail a check made payable to Lakshmi Hasanadka, with Memorial Fund in the memo line to: National Bank of Indianapolis 4950 North Pennsylvania Indianapolis, IN 46205