The Artistic Journey of Jay Kelly
Jay Kelly, born in 1975 in California, is a self-taught artist who has developed a distinctive approach to collage, creating remarkably photorealistic imagery using found paper materials. After graduating from UCLA with a B.A. in Sociology in 1997, Kelly settled in Venice, California, where he began his professional journey in graphic design before emerging as a notable fine artist.
His artistic development took a decisive turn in the late 1990s when he started experimenting with figurative collage, initially incorporating paint with clipped images and text before evolving to create works composed entirely of found materials-primarily vintage magazines, books, and old maps.
Kelly's Unique Artistic Process
Kelly's meticulous creative process begins with selecting a source image-either from books, magazines, or his own photographs-that captures his attention for its balance, depth, beauty, and visual intrigue. He then undertakes the labor-intensive task of recreating the image using various bits of paper. His materials include vintage magazines, novels, art history books, and hand-dyed papers that provide a range of tones from whites and tans to blacks.
Kelly hand-tears and glues each piece to gradually build shadows and highlights, with the paper fragments becoming progressively smaller as the piece nears completion. Once the collage is complete, he seals everything with gel medium and finishes with resin or satin varnish, creating a cohesive work that appears almost photographic from a distance while revealing intricate textural details upon closer inspection.
Recognition and Exhibition History of Jay Kelly
Kelly has gained significant recognition in the art world, with his work featured in solo exhibitions across the United States-including Los Angeles, New York, Aspen, Park City, and Miami-since 2006. He is represented by galleries throughout the United States, Canada, and Germany, and has participated in numerous prestigious art fairs including SCOPE, the LA Art Show, Art Aspen, and the Affordable Art Fair in locations ranging from Miami to Hong Kong.
Beyond gallery exhibitions, his collages have appeared in television shows and films, including the cult classic "Donnie Darko," and can be found in hotels, restaurants, and bars across major U.S. cities. Kelly continues to create commissioned work for private and corporate clients, maintaining his commitment to crafting something tangible and nostalgic in an increasingly digital world.