Artist Bio
ROBERT KELLY
American, 1956 -
Robert Kelly is a contemporary American artist, known for his geometric collaged paintings. He was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1956. He studied at Harvard University, graduating in 1978. After graduation, he began working as a commercial photographer and then devoted himself to painting in 1982.
Robert Kelly's paintings are composed of collaged found materials. He incorporates materials from his travels around the globe, such as antiqued paper, handwritten notes and vintage posters. After laying the paper down in grids, he paints geometric formations in top, incorporating finely ground ash to suggest depth and age. He plays with the idea of doubleness and opposites in many of his pieces, working with positive and negative space.
Currently, Kelly divides his time between New York City and Santa Fe.
American, 1956 -
Robert Kelly is a contemporary American artist, known for his geometric collaged paintings. He was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1956. He studied at Harvard University, graduating in 1978. After graduation, he began working as a commercial photographer and then devoted himself to painting in 1982.
Robert Kelly's paintings are composed of collaged found materials. He incorporates materials from his travels around the globe, such as antiqued paper, handwritten notes and vintage posters. After laying the paper down in grids, he paints geometric formations in top, incorporating finely ground ash to suggest depth and age. He plays with the idea of doubleness and opposites in many of his pieces, working with positive and negative space.
Currently, Kelly divides his time between New York City and Santa Fe.
Collections & Exhibitions
Robert Kelly’s works are held in a number of private collections and prominent public institutions, including:
Kelly has held exhibitions all around the world, including:
- The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
- The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Santa Fe
- Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee
- The Fogg Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge
- McNay Art Museum, San Antonio
Kelly has held exhibitions all around the world, including:
- 2010 Black & White, Galleri Weinberger, Copenhagen, Denmark
- 2010 Spazio Bianco/AR Contemporary Art, Milan, Italy
- 2009 John Berggruen Gallery, San Francisco
- 2008 Leslie Feely Fine Art, New York
- 2007 Tres Americas, Galeria Emma Molina, Monterrey, Mexico
- 2003 An American 6, Sergio Tossi Arte Contemporanea, Florence, Italy
