A Northern California native, Jay Kelly settled in Venice, California after earning his Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology from UCLA. Following college, Kelly began his career as a graphic designer with clients ranging from Sony Electronics and Nissan to independent film projects, yet he quickly emerged as a notable fine artist. His unique style of creating life-like portrait collages out of books, photos and magazines has attracted the attention of collectors across the country and has recently lead to several major commissions.

His work has been featured in exhibitions around the world and can be found in numerous corporate and private collections throughout the country. In addition, Kelly’s work can be seen in the feature film Donnie Darko, in a recent episode of the art and travel television show TV Frames, and in a feature article in Malibu Magazine. A selection of Kelly’s work is also currently on display at the popular Santa Monica club, Zanzibar including two pieces that serve as the club’s permanent outdoor signage.

born:
1975, Walnut Creek, California

education:
1997, B.A. University of California, Los Angeles

solo exhibitions:

2007 Lights Out, Go Go Gallery, Miami, FL

2006 First Words, MW Gallery, Aspen, CO

First Words, Museum Works Gallery, New York, NY

First Words, Museum Works Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

select group exhibitions:

2008 LA Art Show, MW Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

2007 Group Show during Art Basel, Go Go Gallery, Miami, FL

2006 Glassed, Museum Works Gallery, New York, NY

The Group 2006, Lois Lambert Gallery at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA

Portraits, L Street Gallery, San Diego, CA

2005 Petite Works, Gallery 825 at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA

The F-Stop’s Here, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA

Mixed Bag, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA

Up Our Sleeve, Open End Gallery, Chicago, IL

Playground, 247 Central Park West, New York, NY

Mingle, Crescent Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA

Recent Work, Alpha, West Hollywood, CA

2004 Soul Satisfaction, House of Blues, West Hollywood, CA

Remixed, Hum, Santa Monica, CA

Strictly Visual, Lois Lambert Gallery at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA

New Members, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA

Up Our Sleeve, Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY, Amsterdam, Holland, Ghent, Belgium
2003 Up Our Sleeve, Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, Tokyo, Japan, Kyoto, Japan

Things d’Art, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA

Awake, Gallery 138, Los Angeles, CA

2002 Pulsation, Zanzibar, Santa Monica, CA

Arts 4375, Ritz Carlton, Marina del Rey, CA

Unscene, Miller Studio, Venice, CA

Soul Station, Temple Bar, Santa Monica, CA

Beginning, Studio 224, Venice, CA