ABOUT THE ARTIST

LEA KELLEY studied at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. She also studied independently within the inspired association and guidance of other contemporary artists. Her world travels and exploration of many cultures has contributed to the depth and significance of her work. Her passion for art history, mythology and symbolic color  inspires an inquiry into the significance of meaning.

Kelley is the pioneer of the modern art movement refered to as Abstract Expansionism in which the artist initiates a work with a conceptual or symbolic self portrait and transcends through layers of painting, expanding the final work into territories of universal meaning. Her works can be found throughout the United States and Europe.

Kelley’s evocative abstract paintings incorporate archetypal symbolism and color, facilitating a deep interaction with the observer’s personal, internal response to subconscious perception. Her paintings are generally multilayered in a process of emotional exploration and symbolic attributions beneath the surface of each piece.

Over decades, Kelley has created these richly textured emotional landscapes on various media: from wood, hand made paper and recycled cardboard to her present format on large canvas using acrylic, gold, and gold leaf.

Kelley’s black and white photography has been featured in numerous publications. Her Sumi characters have been used on book covers and corporate logos. Development of her whimsical Sumi brush characters began in 1989. She observed cafe patrons, creating their likeness in less than twelve lines. This minimalist approach to the human figure reflects her capacity to capture the intrinsic essence of human nature in her work.

Lea Kelley is the founder of the BELLINGHAM ART TANK a collective of artists, musicians, and poets, in Bellingham, Washington.

She also produces an ongoing community photo documentary project:

FACES OF BELLINGHAM

Presently, Kelley’s studio is located on Holly Street in downtown Bellingham.

A Narration by the Artist Below:

 

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