Jay Kelly began his career in graphic design, yet quickly emerged as a notable fine artistwith his unique style. Kelly’s latest body of work is focused on torn collage elements. Hestarts with a source image that catches his eye for balance, depth, beauty, romance andoverall visual intrigue. Sometimes he finds these images in books or magazines, like hisartwork No Matter Where, which is from a Balenciaga ad in a vintage fashion magazine.Other times the source will be one of his own photographs (as in the case of the chandelierin Just Possible). Once he has chosen a particular image, he explores different sizing andcropping. He then proceeds to the formidable task of recreating it out of various bits ofpaper. Kelly uses a range of collage material for their varied tones and content. For printedmaterial, he uses vintage magazines, novels (both classics and the more obscure) and arthistory books. Depending on the age, condition and yellowing of the old book pages, he isable to get various shades of whites and tans. Kelly also uses a selection of different shadesof black paper stock along with a range of hand dyed paper to round out his color palette.In some cases, with color imagery, the vintage material is scanned and reprinted witharchival ink on fine art paper to preserve the vibrancy of the collage material which couldotherwise be lost over time. The process is labor intensive as he hand-tears and glues each piece to slowly buildshadows and highlights. Eventually when the overall image takes shape, he takes severaltrips across the studio to view the collage through squinted eyes to check proportions andmake sure the shading all feels right. The bits of paper tend to get smaller and smaller asthe piece nears completion. Once the collage is complete, Kelly seals everything with gel medium and then under eithera thick coat of glossy resin or varnish, uniting the varied elements into one cohesive work.Each piece’s title comes from text that has found its way into the finished piece.Kelly chose to paint with paper and various printed materials in order to achieve a uniquedepth to his work. By allowing the viewer to first see a complete, near photorealistic imagefrom a distance, then at a closer look to explore the many individual textures and bits oftext, he is able to add layers of meaning to each piece. Kelly loves the effect that thousandsof little bits of paper, all taken out of context, come together to create something new. Hefeels art should inspire, transport and hopefully awe the viewer. This is his intention withthis series of collage works. EDUCATION 1997 B.A. Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles SOLO EXHIBITIONS 2019 New Work, Claire Carino Contemporary, Boston, MA 2016 New Work, Whistler Contemporary, Whistler, BC 2015 Subtext, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT 2014 Continued on the Next Page, Gold Gallery, Boston, MA 2012 Westward, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 2011 California Soul, The Art District Gallery, Santa Monica, CAVBAC, Van Buren Art Collective, Venice, CALoaded Symbols, J GO Gallery, Park City, UT 2010 Off The Grid, The Art District Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 2009 Sunset Boulevard, Falcon, Hollywood, CAInto The Bright Stillness, Phoenix Gallery, Park City, UT 2008 Rawness & Polish, Commissary Arts, Venice, CA 2007 Lights Out, Go Go Gallery, Miami, FL 2006 First Words, MW Gallery, Aspen, COFirst Words, Museum Works Gallery, New York, NYFirst Words, Museum Works Gallery, Los Angeles, CA SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2024 AAF NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA / Phoenix, AZ 2023 Art Miami, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Miami, FLArt Market San Francisco, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA 2022 Art Market San Francisco, Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CAContext Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA / Phoenix, AZ 2021 artMRKT Hamptons, Axiom Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA / Phoenix, AZArt Miami, Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CAContext Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Philadelphia, PA / Phoenix, AZ 2020 Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Palm Springs, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CASCOPE NYC, Claire Carino Contemporary, Boston, MAArt on Paper NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 2019 Los Angeles Art Show, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Palm Springs, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAAF NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAAF Hong Kong, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Aspen, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAMarket Art + Design Hamptons, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAAF Melbourne, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CASofa: Chicago, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CASCOPE Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 2018 Los Angeles Art Show, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAAF NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAMarket Art + Design Hamptons, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Aspen, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAAF London, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CASeattle Art Fair, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CASCOPE Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 2017 AAF Hong Kong, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CASCOPE NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAAF NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAPalm Springs Fine Art Fair, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CASCOPE Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 2016 Affordable Art Fair London, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAEncapsulated, Gold Gallery, Boston, MAAffordable Art Fair NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Aspen, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Hamptons, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAffordable Art Fair Hong Kong, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Market San Francisco, Simon Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CASCOPE NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAffordable Art Fair NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAPalm Springs Fine Art Fair, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CALos Angeles Art Show, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAPaper Bound, Gold Gallery, Boston, MASCOPE Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 2015 Winter Sol, J GO Gallery, Park City, UTLove in Color, Art Project Paia, Maui, HISCOPE Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAffordable Art Fair Singapore, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Silicon Valley, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CAHouston Fine Art Fair, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Aspen, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Southampton, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Hamptons, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAAffordable Art Fair Hong Kong, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Market San Francisco, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CAAffordable Art Fair NYC, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAPalm Springs Fine Art Fair, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CALos Angeles Art Show, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 2014 Winter Sol, J GO Gallery, Park City, UTRed Dot Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAI Love Maui, Art Project Paia, Maui, HIArt Silicon Valley, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CAHouston Fine Art Fair, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Aspen, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Hamptons, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt MRKT, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, San Francisco, CAAAF NY, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CALA Art Show, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 2013 Group Show, Gold Gallery, Boston, MAWinter Sol, J GO Gallery, Park City, UTSurf’s Up, Art Project Paia, Maui, HIRed Dot Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAartMRKT San Francisco, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CAAAF Seattle, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Houston, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Hamptons, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Southhampton, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAArt Wynwood, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CALA Art Show, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CA 2012 Red Dot during Art Basel Miami, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAGuilded, Gold Gallery, Boston, MAArt Hamptons, Axiom Contemporary, Santa Monica, CAMassively Small, J GO Gallery, Park City, UTWinter Sol, J GO Gallery, Park City, UTLA Art Show, Axiom Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA 2011 Massively Small, J GO Gallery, Park City, UTGroup Show, Mensing Galerie, GermanyRed Dot during Art Basel Miami, Lurie Gallery, Santa Monica, CAArt Hamptons, Lurie Gallery, Santa Monica, CAAfordable Art Fair NYC, Lurie Gallery, Santa Monica, CASan Francisco Fine Art Show, Lurie Gallery, Santa Monica, CARed Dot NYC, Lurie Gallery, Santa Monica, CALA Art Show, The Art District Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 2010 Aqua Hotel during Art Basel Miami, Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts, Mill Valley, CARed Dot during Art Basel Miami, Lurie Gallery, Santa Monica, CAGroup Show, SOHO Gallery, Los Angeles, CARogue Wave II, Anderson Art Collective, Carpinteria, CA 2009 Sensory Perception, 87Zero, Honolulu, HISmall Works Invitational, Phoenix Gallery, Park City, UTRogue Wave, Anderson Art Collective, Carpinteria, CA 2008 Aqua Hotel during Art Basel Miami, Commissary Arts, Venice, CASmall Works Invitational, Phoenix Gallery, Park City, UTPoker Night, Commissary Arts, Venice, CALA Art Show, MW Gallery, Santa Monica, CAGroup Show, Mensing Galerie, Germany 2007 Group Show during Art Basel, Go Go Gallery, Miami, FLSmall Works Invitational, Phoenix Gallery, Park City, UTGroup Show, Mensing Galerie, GermanyArt Miami, MW Gallery, New York, NY 2006 Glassed, Museum Works Gallery, New York, NYThe Group 2006, Lois Lambert Gallery at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CAPortraits, L Street Gallery, San Diego, CA 2005 Petite Works, Gallery 825 at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CAThe F-Stop’s Here, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CAMixed Bag, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CAPlayground, 247 Central Park West, New York, NYMingle, Crescent Hotel, Beverly Hills, CARecent Work, Alpha, West Hollywood, CA 2004 Soul Satisfaction, House of Blues, West Hollywood, CARemixed, Hum, Santa Monica, CAStrictly Visual, Lois Lambert Gallery at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CANew Members, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CAPetite Works, Gallery 825 at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA 2003 Up Our Sleeve, Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, Tokyo, Japan, Kyoto, JapanThings d’Art, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CAAwake, Gallery 138, Los Angeles, CA 2002 Pulsation, Zanzibar, Santa Monica, CAArts 4375, Ritz Carlton, Marina del Rey, CAUnscene, Miller Studio, Venice, CA COLLECTIONS Arizona State UniversityBlack Coffee GalleryBurbank & Main LLCClare FoundationDarko EntertainmentDicker & AssociatesEddie V’s Prime SeafoodHirsh Bedner AssociatesHum Music & Sound DesignJuris Law GroupKaiser PermanenteNational GeographicOptimal Fusion HollywoodParadigm AgencyPlatinum EquityR. Jack BalthazarRock Asset ManagementSutton Pakfar & Courtney, LLPThen What FilmsVisaW Hotel HollywoodWolfgang Puck WorldwideZuber & Taillieu LLP BIBLIOGRAPHY Carla Sakamoto (Curator) For Which It Stands: Americana in Contemporary Art,Farameh Media, 2012, p. 330-333