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John KellyOil painting on Stretched canvas
Finished black edges
Ready to hang
One-of-a-kind
Signed on back
2017
32 " h x 21 " w x .75 " d |2 lbs. 2 oz.
SHIPS FREE
About
This
Artwork
I painted this as part of my Danceuse series, working with a talented dancer, Clemence. I was inspired by Degas' dancers, but I wanted to be less abstract and explore the dancer's psychology -- the wistful look of the dancer into a bright whiteness suggests a melancholy, but also a curiosity, or even acceptance. The piece is wired to hang and unvarnished.
John Kelly
Paris, France
John was born in Paris and grew up in New York. He attended the School of Visual Arts in the 1980s and participated in the East Village art scene at the time, showing at 301 Houston Street Gallery and Ground Zero Gallery. His work was mainly influenced by the Abstract Expressionists and the German Expressionists, but that changed when he saw a Balthus retrospective at the Met in 1983. His work became figurative, and has remained so ever since. Today, he works with several models, and they’ve become active collaborators in his art. “Allowing them to be creative helps me,” he says. John’s paintings live between the realms of classicism and modernity. He painstakingly renders his models with the precision traditionally reserved for the world’s wealthy and powerful, but his subjects are like you and me. As viewers, we see intimate moments of self-reflection and vulnerability. The figures are so close to the surface, it feels like you are part of the incredibly charged scene.
Here's more work from John you may enjoy
Hear what collectors say about John's work
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I just received "Steph 2014" and it looks amazing in my study. My first real art purchase and I'm very excited about it.
- C Jones
did you paint picture of people fishing in Paris it has the name Kelly on it .thanks
Still working with Clemence, but also a friend of hers, a fellow dancer named Lucinne. I'm experimenting with using more lush colors, principally blue and orange. Just saw the Degas at the Opera show at the Musée D'Orsay, very inspiring.
Still working away, I'm starting to work with Clemence again, my talented dancer, and the new work is going so well it's almost scary. I'm pushing it as far as I can, I really want to show something deeper
Right now I'm working on a new series, and I'll soon have a bunch more work up. And if anyone is in Paris, please stop by my studio!
I'm having a show at 34 Bonaparte, with new work. Please stop by, at 34 Rue Bonaparte, Paris (St. Germain des Prés). The name of the show is "Figures", and I think its some of my best work, most of the paintings were painted plein aire, outside, so landscape is a big part of the images. I used areas around Paris, like the Jardin de Luxembourt, Parc Monceau, and Le Pard de la Nouvelle France, (which is a well kept secret unknown to most Parisians). I tried to make the landscape be the reflections of the model's moods. Anyway, anyone in Paris please stop by, I'm at the most gallery most days.
Just added a few more pieces, please let me know if you guys like them! And it's Bastille day in Paris -- Vive la France!
Just was in a two person show at the Untitled Factory in Montmartre, great turnout, and I sold several pieces. Again, if anyone is in Paris, please get in touch!
My one man show at Galerie 34 Bonaparte was extremely successful, everyone liked the theme of La Danse, and I met a lot of great people and collectors. If anyone is in Paris, please get in touch with me, I'd love to meet some of the people from Ugallery.
So I'm having another one man show at 34 Bonaparte Gallery here in Paris. Anyone who wants to please come it's at 34 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris. Theme of the show is Dance, and I was privileged with working with some very talented French dancers. Hope to see you there.
I'll be in a group show at Untitled Factory, 32 Rue Gabrielle, Paris, Nov 11-22. See you there! The vernissage is between 6-9 Nov 11.
And it looks like I'll be having a one man show here in Paris in December, with all new work. If you're in Paris in December, come by!
Just uploaded a new piece, part of my interior series inspired by Vermeer. Let me know what you guys think!
Went up to Montmartre today to the Montmartre life drawing workshop, broke out the pastels. It's a great group, and if you're in Paris, check it out. After, we all have drinks and critique our work (gently). They have great models and costume events as well.
My show in Paris was a spectacular success! Met a lot of interesting people all over the world, and have some new collectors. My new piece, Casement, was painted in my apartment in Paris, with a new model, Gemma. Another piece inspired by the Vermeer show up at the Louvre now.
Thank you, D.Combs! And if you're in Paris, my work is still up at Galerie 34 Bonaparte, if you'd like to stop by!
The way you have painted this woman's back is exquisite! Perfect cafe au lait!
I won a juried competition at the Untitled Factory gallery 32 Rue Gabrielle, Paris, in Montmartre, just up the hill from the Abbesses metro stop. I'll be in a group show there until 7 May. Stop by if you're in Paris and take a look, and don't forget about my one man show at 34 Bonaparte Gallery on 16 May to 29 May. The vernissage is on 18 may at 7:00. See you there!
I'm going to have a show at the 34 Bonaparte Gallery in Paris the last two weeks in May. If anyone is in Paris, please stop by and say hello!
I was not on Ugallery for a few months while I made the move to Paris. Getting my work here literally took 3 months. But I'm back now, and have several new pieces up. Please let me know what you guys think!
I'm moving to Paris! And I'm finishing up a series, Just posted the first example. It's part of my Pierrot series. Amina, my model did a terrific job with her makeup magic, and these pieces just almost painted themselves. They're smaller than I usually work, and I really like them. Let me know what you guys think!
I've got a couple more pieces going up on Thursday. Hope everyone likes them.
Have been neglecting my blog. Have a few new pieces that are drying. Check back soon!
Getting back to work after the holidays, I have several new exciting pieces that I'm waiting to dry.
I just wanted to say a sincere thank you to all my collectors. It means a lot to me that my paintings are going to good homes. I'm in the middle of a new series, using my favorite model, Amina. I'll be posting several new pieces soon.
Back in L.A., and it's weird, I feel like I'm glad to be back to where everyone is wearing shorts, and the ocean just backs everything here, but I miss Paris. I did a lot of sketching, and some pastels, which I'll be posting soon.
Still in Paris, and am (happily) overloaded with the amazing amount of beautiful art here. I saw the Bonnard show three times, been to the Louvre twice and will probably go again before we leave. Tomorrow I'm going to see the L'orangerie and Monet's spectacular water lilies.
Well, here I am in Paris, where I was born, and although it is different, it's also the same. We're staying in St. Germain de Pres, my favourite neighborhood, and today we're going tot he Louvre. I'v done a few watercolour sketches in cafes, but haven't done anything major yet.
Going to France tomorrow for a month! Check my Facebook page and twitter account, I'll be posting new artwork done from the city of light.
Just set up a tumblr account, see me at http://johnkellyart.tumblr.com plenty of new stuff there.
See me on twitter at @john_kellyart!
I was just named a finalist for the Art Renewal Center's 2014/2015 Salon! Wish me luck! http://www.artrenewal.org
Thank you so much, Mr. Jones.! I am so grateful and honored that you've chosen my painting for your first purchase. If you have any questions feel free to ask, and thanks again. John
I just received "Steph 2014" and it looks amazing in my study. My first real art purchase and I'm very excited about it.
Hi R Genseal, I think you may have the wrong John Kelly :). My parents burdened me with an extremely common name, and there are several other artists with the same name, one of whom lives in Hawaii. Good luck, and sorry I couldn't help! John
Hello, I have a print " San Francisco" not numbered but sighned in pencil and copyrighted 1973. No A/P marking, could you tell me something about it? Thanks!
New pIece uploaded and it's a staff favorite! Also, I'm now accepting new students. Contact me for details
Just uploaded a new piece, I really like it. Let me know what any of you think!
The Open Studio went great, lots of fun, and nobody got too drunk! Anytime any one here wants to visit, let me know, I'd be happy to show you my latest work.
Getting ready for my open studio next weekend. Hope to see you there!
Thanks, B. Murray, I didn't see this comment until today (I've been crazed) and I really appreciate your comment.
Thank you, B. Murray, I didn't see your post until today. What a great compliment! Hey guys, if you're in L.A. on 11/15, I'm having an open studio. You can see the stuff on here in real life and I have some new work I haven't posted yet. It's at the Hawthorne Arts Complex, 13040 Cerise Ave, Hawthorne, CA. Hope to see you there!
To John Kelly; find your painting impressive skillful and charming.
Just uploaded a new piece I've been working on for months, it's one of my favorites. I like the way the light pours down the Nepalese tapestry, which I bought from a Nepalese girl in Honolulu. Kathy is the model, and yes, she was actually asleep while she posed.
Just uploaded a piece of one my favorite models, Stephanie. I love this piece, somber and at the same time, sensuous.
Wow, haven't posted in awhile. I started a new series, surrealistic this time. These paintings will take awhile, but they kind of scare me, (which means I think they're good). Also, I was named a "Meritorious Entry" in the Richardson 75 contest, which means two of my paintings will be published in the catalog.
I'm in a group show here in L.A. "Musas" at Vees Gallery, 5418 West Adams, LA. If you're in L.A., stop by!
Just finished two more pieces, can't wait to post them. Waiting for them to dry so I can varnish them.
Thank you! I was just working today on a new painting there. And congratulations on starting drawing. Piketty's book is fascinating and disturbing let me know what you think of it...
John, I really dig your work. I'm just starting to draw myself and am attracted to your style. Keep up the the great work and good luck in your new studio! BTW - I just bought Piketty's book myself.
Just started a new painting of my friend Kathy Bausch, who is a spectacular jewelry designer. First in my new studio!
Studio set up and ready to go. I think I'll be working on a series based on Gerome, sort of a 19th century Orientalism series.
Just added some new work, let me know if you guys like it (or hate it, or are just indifferent). I just moved into a new studio in Hawthorne and am going to start a new series of figure paintings. Many power tools in my future first.