Kirsten Malone, 29; artist, 'The Faux' singer, keyboardist

Kirsten Malone spent much of last year looking for a boyfriend -- sort of.

The 29-year-old artist, who was a student at Massachusetts College of Art at the time, created a mock ''resume" that examined and poked fun at her love life. Listed as the art project's objective: a mature and meaningful relationship.

She posted the resume on-line, and thousands of potential suitors responded.

The off-beat need for expression that fueled such a project was just one of the things friends said they will miss about her.

Saturday morning, Ms. Malone was riding her bike near the intersection of Franklin and Lincoln streets in Allston and was hit by a car, according to Boston police. Ms. Malone, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered severe head injuries and died early yesterday at Massachusetts General Hospital, friends said. Police are investigating the accident. Friends said she was recently accepted into graduate school in Chicago.

'' 'The Love Resume was such a huge art project," said Aliza Shapiro, a friend from Dorchester. ''She included all the e-mails she received. It was just a quirky way of looking at dating in the modern world. She was very innovative like that."

Ms. Malone, a resident of Mission Hill in Roxbury, was a member of the Copley Society, a national art group, friends said.

''She was into experimental and conceptual art and looking at women's issues," said Joseph Coelho, who dated Ms. Malone for two years.

Coelho later played in the same band, The Faux, in which Ms. Malone sang and played keyboard. The band will not perform without her.

''We decided that we just can't do it anymore," Coelho said. ''Her personality was so integral."

On-line message boards popular with Boston-area artists were filled with postings about Ms. Malone, also a former member of The Statue Factor.

The Westport, Conn.-native, who dressed in vintage clothes and sometimes went by the name ''Lady K," often pedaled through the city on her bike, to and from art shows and performances, supporting other artists, friends said.

''She had the uncanny knack for always being at the coolest rock shows, art events and off-the-wall parties," said Ernesto Gianola of Cambridge.

Her family didn't always know what to make of Ms. Malone, who often came home with her hair a different color, but was always fun to be around.

''She was an awesome aunt to my children," said her sister, Candace Waldee, of Marietta, Ga., whose children are 2, 5, 7. ''She would come by and play non-stop -- pretend and dress-up games, stuff most adults wouldn't play. My kids didn't consider Aunt Kirsten a grown-up. They didn't understand that concept."

In addition to her sister, Ms. Malone, leaves her parents, William and Carol, of Westport, and brother Joseph of Glen Ellyn, Ill.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Luke's Church in Westport.

The Middle East in Cambridge, where The Faux often played, is planning a memorial concert, possibly in September, a manager said.

Friends hope to increase bicycle safety awareness in her memory.

In exchanges on Internet message boards this week, they have talked about creating a fund to help people buy bicycle helmets.