Born September 6, 1960
Education 1987 Art Academy of Cincinnati, B.F.A., Magna cum laude
Awards
2000 Al Smith Artists Fellowship Award, Kentucky Arts Council
One-Person Exhibitions
2018 "Kicking Against the Pricks", Alan Avery Art Company, Atlanta, GA
2017 “Terra Pulchra: Landscape Drawings”, C-Link Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2015 “Journey of the Spirit”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2010 “Embracing the Yin”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2008 “Risky Business”, The Rymer Gallery, Nashville, TN
“Opus Proprium”, AVS Art Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2006 “Living in a Four Letter World”, The Harcum Gallery,
Wilmington College, Wilmington, OH
2005 “Stasis Quo”, The Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH
“Drawings by Kevin T. Kelly”, Manifest Creative Research
Gallery and Drawing Center, Cincinnati, OH
2004 “Beyond the Pale”, The Carnegie Arts Center, Covington, KY
2003 “Mr. Bad Example”, Kidder-Smith Gallery, Boston, MA
2002 “End Games”, Linda Schwartz Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2001 “Sex, Flames & Tracers”, C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, MI
1999 “Kevin T. Kelly : Unplugged (The Small Works 1993-1999)”,
Suzanna Terrill Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
1996 “Syntax and Semantics”. Bruce R. Lewin Gallery, New York, NY
“Zeitgeist Simulacra” , Marta Hewett Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
1995 “Paradigm Lost”, Bruce R. Lewin Gallery, New York, NY
1994 “Trouble in Mind” , Bruce R. Lewin Gallery, New York, NY
1993 “Reactive Agents”, Kraine Theatre Gallery, New York, NY
1992 “Business as Usual”, Marta Hewett Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
1989 “The Fallen Idol Icons”, Pulse Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Selected Group Exhibitions
2022 “Painting to the Music of Time”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2021 “Our Town”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2020 “Modern & Contemporary”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2019 “The Sublime: Romantic Landscapes-The Ongoing Search for Beauty”,
Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2018 “Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXXIII”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2017 “The Return to Beauty: Asian Influences on Contemporary Landscape Art”,
Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
“The Dirty Show 18”, Russell Industrial Center- Exhibition Center,
Detroit, MI
2016 “Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXXI”, Cincinnati Art Galleries,
Cincinnati, OH
“Painters of Interest”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2015 “Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXX”, Cincinnati Art Galleries,
Cincinnati, OH
“After the Moment: Reflections on Robert Mapplethorpe”,
Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, OH
“Art Driven at 506 Ash”, Gallery 506 Ash Street, Elsmere, KY
Kinsey Institute Exhibition: “UNDERCOVER”, Eric Dean Gallery,
Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana
“Arts Alive! A Retrospective of Influential Covington Artists Over
the Past 200 Years”, Behringer-Crawford Museum, Covington, KY
2014 “Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXIX”, Cincinnati Art Galleries,
Cincinnati, OH
“Angels”, curated by Gary Gaffney, St. John’s Unitarian Church,
Cincinnati, OH
“The Definitive Contemporary Landscape”, curated by Daniel Brown,
Covington Arts, Covington, KY
2013 “Past/Present”, The Kinsey Institute, Bloomington, IN
“Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXVIII”, Cincinnati Art Galleries,
Cincinnati, OH
“One New Painting: Mark IIl”, Frame Designs, Cincinnati, OH
“Angels”, curated by Gary Gaffney, The Carnegie Visual and
Performing Arts Center, Covington, KY
“Artists as Activists” curated by Saad Ghosn, Northern Kentucky
University, Highland Heights, KY
2012 “One New Painting: A Summer Invitational”, Frame Designs,
Cincinnati, OH
“Gallery Selections 2012”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
“Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXVII”, Cincinnati Art Galleries,
Cincinnati, OH
2011 “Artists as Activists”, The Artisans Enterprise Center, Covington, Ky
“One New Painting: A Summer Invitational”, Frame Designs,
Cincinnati, OH
2010 “Poetry of the Still Life; Then and Now”, Cincinnati Art Galleries,
Cincinnati, OH
“Synergies”, The University Club of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
2009 “It’s All About ©”, C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, MI
“American Spirit”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
2008 “Iconic Colors”, Featuring the works of: Jim Dine, Kevin T. Kelly,
Louise Nevelson, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol,
Tom Wesselmann and recent works by Arielle Sandler,
Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, OH
“About Face: 25 years. Some of the collectors who brought us here”,
Alan Avery Art Company, Atlanta, GA
2007 “Once Upon a Time in the Midwest”, Dorothy W. and Lawson Reed Jr.
Gallery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
“Quiet”, Inaugural Exhibition of the Rymer Gallery, Rymer Gallery,
Nashville, TN
“Blue Kama Sutra: The Sacred and the Profane”, (Collaborative show
with Sheri Besso), The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center,
Covington, KY
2006 “The Figure Considered...”, Northern Kentucky University,
Highland heights, KY
“Welcome Back:Alumni Invitational”, Ruthe Pearlman Gallery,
Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
“Cincinnati Timeline”, Phyllis J. Weston-Annie Bolling Galleries,
Cincinnati, OH
2005 “Carnivale d’ Expose”, Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center,
Covington, KY (Multimedia presentations)
2004 “Pop and Circumstance”, Media Bridges, Cincinnati, OH
“The Director Selects”, Trinity Gallery, Atlanta, GA
“Skin Deep”, 708 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH
(“The Malevolent Muse”, video presentation)
“Celebrating Ohio Landscapes”, Closson’s Phyllis J. Weston Gallery,
Cincinnati, OH
“Heartfelt: Artwork that is Pulmonary or Tactile”, Northern Kentucky
University, Highland Heights, KY
2003 “The New Collection”, Trinity Gallery, Atlanta GA
“Objective or Non-Objective?”, Closson’s Phyllis J. Weston Gallery,
Cincinnati, OH
“POP! a Cap in Yo’ Azz” , S.S. Nova, Cincinnati. OH
67th National Midyear Show, The Butler Institute of American Art,
Youngstown, OH, Juried Exhibition, Juror: John Alexander
2002 “Visions International”, Art Center Waco, Waco, TX, Juried Exhibition,
Juror: Peter Frank, Art Critic
“ small works III: red”, Linda Schwartz Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2001 “small works II”, Linda Schwartz Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2000 “small works”, Linda Schwartz Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
“About Face”, Columbus College of Art and Design,
Columbus, OH
1999 “C Stands for...”, C-Pop Gallery, Detroit, MI
Suzanna Terrill Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
1996 Bruce R. Lewin Gallery, New York, NY
1993 Bruce R. Lewin Gallery, New York, NY
“Selections #1”, Kraine Theatre Gallery, New York, NY
1992 Kraine Theatre Gallery, New York, NY
1991 “Multiculturalism: The Evolution and The Celebration"
Museum Center at the Union Terminal, Cincinnati, OH
1989 “Forrest Avenue Farewell”, Nexus Contemporary Art Center,
Atlanta, GA
1988 “Comment”, Nexus Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta, GA
"Secrets”, Gallery 10, Washington, D.C.
“Exhibit 280” (Biennial Exhibition), Huntington Museum of Art,
Huntington, WV
Bibliography
2018 AEQAI, Kevin T. Kelly at Alan Avery Art Company, Daniel Brown, October 7, 2018, www.aeqai.com
2017 Cincinnati City Beat, Multiple Layers Form a Smooth 'Skin', Kathy Schwartz, May 3, 2017
AEQAI, Painting in Public, Jane Durrell, February 9, 2017, www.aeqai.com
2016 The Cincinnati Enquirer, Feeling the Love for CVG’s Murals?,
Carol Motsinger, Friday, December 23, 2016, Front page, 5A.
Artists Network, Inside the Studio with Acrylic Artist Kevin T. Kelly,
Jennifer Smith, September 23, 2016, www.artistsnetwork.com
Acrylic Artist Magazine, A Bigger Picture: Kevin T. Kelly: transitions from over-the-
top Pop Art to nirvana-like landscapes, Zach Hatfield, Fall 2016, Volume 2 Issue 3,
pp. 88 - 95.
Northern Kentucky Magazine, The Pop Factor: Post-modern pop artist Kevin T. Kelly
combines graphical style with dark themes to create one-of-a kind art, Juli Hale, Fall 2016,
Volume 6 Issue 3, pp. 47-49.
2015 Saad Ghosn, Artists as Activists, (Cincinnati, OH : Ghosn Publishing, 2015)
180-185.
Artists Magazine, From Sardonic to Serene: Seeking the Spiritual
in Landscape, Daniel Brown, September 2015, pp. 2-11
AEQAI, Journey of the Spirit: Landscapes by Kevin T. Kelly,
Karen Chambers, May 19, 2015, www.aeqai.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Works That Pop Out,
Garin Pinia, January 25, 2015, Cincinnati, OHp. D8.
2014 “The Insider, The Breitling Magazine”, The Art of Kevin T. Kelly,
William M. Weich, 2014, pp. 12-19.
Robert Schrage, Legendary Locals of Covington, (Charleston, S.C. :
Arcadia Publishing, 2014). 88-89.
2011 Acrylic Artist Magazine, Kevin T. Kelly: the nature of meditation,
Anne Hevener, Fall 2011
ArtSeen: A Conversation with Kevin T. Kelly,
Shawn Daniell, Friday, July 29, 2011, pp. 32-33.
2010 AEQAI, Kevin T. Kelly and Leslie Shiels, Karen Chambers, October 17, 2010,
www.aeqai.com
Cincinnati Streetvibes, Dark Humor and Harmony: Kevin T. Kelly’s Spiritual Trek,
Saad Ghosn, April 15-30, 2010, Cincinnati, OH, p. 16
2006 The Sunday Challenger, Postmodern Hip Meets Ultra-Cool Lounge,
Vicki Prichard, January 1, 2006, Covington, KY, p. 7C2005
2005 The Cincinnati Enquirer, Owners aspire to raise Covington’s social bar,
Andrea Remke, December 11, 2005, Northern Kentucky, pp. B-1, B-6.
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Catalog Kelly’s newest work of art,
Sara Pearce, November 20, 2005, Cincinnati, OH, p.D-3.
Dayton City Paper, Sexplosion: The provocative super-graphics of Kevin T. Kelly,
Jud Yalkut, November 9-15, 2005, Dayton, OH , p. 13.
The Dayton Daily News, Let’s talk about sex (or not), (Cover Story),
Ron Rollins, October 9, 2005, Dayton, OH, p. F-1, F-4
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Artist takes off on American pop culture, (Cover Story),
Sara Pearce, October 2, 2005, Cincinnati, OH, p. D-1, D-8
“Creative Lives: Kevin T. Kelly”, 30 minute cable broadcast interview with the artist,
Dania Smith, Telecommunications Board of Northern Kentucky, September, 2005,
Covington, KY
The Cincinnati Enquirer, A Fraction of the Action, (Cover Story), Sara Pearce,
September 11, 2005, Cincinnati, OH, p. D-4
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Pop in to these must-see shows, (Cover Story), Sara Pearce,
September 11, 2005, Cincinnati, OH, p. D-5
The Art Academy News, Kevin Kelly’s Pullman Square, Howard Wells, March 2005,
pp. 4, 6.
2004 Cincinnati Magazine, he thunk, she thunk, Colleen Armstrong, September 2004,
Cincinnati, OH, p.186
The Sunday Challenger, Postmodern Provocative: Kevin Kelly’s Pop Art More Than
Skin Deep, Vicki Prichard, July 18, 2004, Covington, KY, p. 5C
Cincinnati CityBeat, Kevin T. Kelly at the Carnegie Visual + Performing Arts Center,
Julie Bernzott and Jacquelyn Vaughn, Look Here, March 24-30, 2004, Cincinnati, OH,
p. 47
Cincinnati CityBeat, Adult Subject Matter: Kelly’s Pop Art Indicts Complacency
at the Carnegie, Stacey Recht, March 17 –23, 2004, Cincinnati, OH, p.47
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Kelly’s Cartoons Pop with Appeal, Marilyn Bauer,
March 12, 2004, Cincinnati, OH, Weekend, p.9
The Cincinnati Post, At Carnegie, Art from landscapes to Neo-Pop, Jerry Stein,
March 9, 2004, Cincinnati, OH, Living, pp. 1- 2B
2003 The Boston Globe, Opposing Bubbles / Kevin T. Kelly: Mr. Bad Example,
Cate McQuaid, February 14, 2003, Boston, MA, p. C-22
2002 New Art Examiner, Kevin T. Kelly at the Linda Schwartz Gallery,
Jane Durrell, May/June, 2002, pp. 96 - 97
Cincinnati CityBeat, Complex Creativity: As Much Freud as Funnies in
Kelly’s Paintings, Fran Watson, March 21-27, 2002, Cincinnati, OH, p. 45
The Cincinnati Post, Pop Art Makes Return, Jerry Stein, February 28, 2002,
Cincinnati, OH, Living, p. 1- 2B
2001 Detroit Metro Times, ...and C-POP takes a trip, Liz DiDonna, March 8-12, 2001,
Detroit, MI
2000 Cincinnati CityBeat, It’s a Small World, Fran Watson, December 14 - 20, 2000,
Cincinnati, OH, p. 75
The Courier-Journal, Viewpoints: Cover Art, Diane Heileman, July 16, 2000,
Louisville, KY.
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Artist Pays Tribute to Pop Guru,, Owen Findsen,
June 16, 2000, Cincinnati, OH, p. Tempo 1-A
1999 http://www.texaco.com, The Current Revival of Pop Art, William Livingstone,
November, 1999, pp. 1-3
1996 The International Economy, Locked Out of the Men’s Club, Owen Ullmann,
January/February, 1996, pp. 16- 17. (Image: “Genderrific!”)
Antenna Arts Magazine, Kelly at Marta Hewett Gallery, Lee Horvitz,
August, 1996, Cincinnati, OH, pp. 18-19
1994 Resident Publications, The New Addition, Rochelle Campbell,
February 25 - March 10, 1994, p. 15
1992 The Art Academy News, Catching Up with Kevin Kelly, Jane Stanton,
September, 1992, p. 5
1990 Dialogue, The Fallen Idol Icons, David Waite, March/April, 1990, p. 25
1988 The Art Academy News, The Impact of Information on the Individual in the
Twentieth Century, Daniel Brown, May 3, 1988
The Cincinnati Enquirer, Pop Art Exhibit Features Icon Paintings, Owen Findsen,
August 12, 1988, p. B-10
Catalogues
2018 “Kicking Against the Pricks”, Alan Avery Art Company, Atlanta, GA
2016 “Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXXI”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati , OH
2015 “Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXX”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati , OH
2014 “Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXIX”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati , OH
2013 “Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXVIII”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati , OH
2012 “Panorama of Cincinnati Art XXVII”, Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati , OH
2012 “The Insider, The Breitling Magazine", Grenchen, Switzerland,
(Cover), pp. 19, 36, 40-41, 53, 65, 72
2005 “Stasis Quo”, The Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, OH, Essay by P.J. O’Rourke
“Cruft by Robert Spahr / Drawings by Kevin T. Kelly”,
Manifest Research Gallery and Drawing Center, Cincinnati, OH,
Essay by Jason Franz
2003 “New American Paintings, Volume 46”, The Open Studios Press, Boston, MA,
(Cover), pp. 82-85
2002 “Visions International “, Art Center Waco, Waco, TX
2000 “New American Paintings, Volume 28”, The Open Studios Press,
Wellesley, MA (Cover), pp. 94-97
“The Big Pig Gig: Celebrating Pigs in the City”, Orange Frazer Press,
Wilmington, OH
“The Big Pig Gig”, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH
1993 “Selections #1”, Kraine Theatre Gallery, New York, NY
1992 “Business as Usual”, (Two person show with Thom Shaw), Marta Hewett Gallery,
Cincinnati, OH
1988 “COMMENT”, Nexus Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta, GA
Publications
2022 Maintraum: In the Wake, Review of the Maintraum Group show at Wash Park Art.
www.aeqai.com, September 1, 2022
2014 Beyond Pop: A Tom Wesselmann Retrospective, editorial essay online,
www.aeqai.com, December 1, 2014
2013 Manifest’s Tenth Anniversary, editorial essay online, www.aeqai.com, November 24, 2013
On the State of the Arts, editorial essay online, www.aeqai.com, September 22, 2013
2012 Kit Carson and Buffalo Bill Capture the Kaiser, Critical essay on “The Unwelcome Guests”
by Henry Farny in the Cincinnati Art Museum permanent collection, AEQAI critical review
online, www.aeqai.com, April, 2012
2002 Testament to Exploration, Review of the posthumous retrospective of Darrell W. Brothers
at the Studio San Giuseppe Gallery at The College of Mount Saint Joseph, Cincinnati CityBeat,
Vol. 8, no. 83, September 5 -11, 2002, 53 - 54.
Mood and Emotion, Review of the paintings of Thomas Rush at The Design Consortium,
Cincinnati CityBeat, Vol. 8, no. 26, May 16 - 22, 2002, 53.
Review of Joel Otterson’s installation at The Weston Art Gallery, New Art Examiner,
Vol. 29, no. 4, March/April 2002, 88.
Roesing Ape and the Art of Selfishness, Interview article with the members of Cincinnati-based
performance art group Roesing Ape, Dialogue, Vol. 25, no. 1, January / February 2002, 28 - 29.
2001 Artist and Treasures: Memorable shows and events on the local art scene in 2001, year in review
by: Fran Watson, Kate Brauer, Jane Durrell and Kevin T. Kelly, Cincinnati CityBeat,
December 27, 2001 - January 2, 2002, 51.
Layers of Meaning, Review of the work of Jason Franz and Chad Emery at DAAP Galleries
Downtown, Cincinnati CityBeat, November 15 - 21, 2001, 51.
Exploring New Realms, Review of the 30 year retrospective of Robert J. Morris
at Zahorec-Hughes Gallery, Cincinnati CityBeat, October 4 - 10, 2001, 55.
Review of Keith Benjamin : Hot and Cold: Recent Sculptures at the Linda Schwartz Gallery,
Dialogue, Vol. 24, no. 5, September / October 2001, 50-51.
Varied Vistas, Review of the paintings of Jacob Pfeiffer, Michael Graves, W. Steve Seltzer,
Robert DeLeon and Hubert Wackerman at the Miller Gallery, Cincinnati CityBeat,
September 6 - 12, 2001, 51.
Review of Peter Huttinger: Sex Machines and Related Objects/Activities and Deborah Brod:
Unbridled: Textile and ComputerGenerated Works at The Weston Art Gallery, Dialogue,
Vol. 24, no. 4, July / August 2001, 75.
Sign of the Times, Review of the works of Thom Shaw, Nuts Society and Charles Grund
at The Weston Art Gallery, Cincinnati CityBeat, June 21 - 27, 2001, 54.
Language of Art, Review of Cheryl Wassenaar’s paintings at Warsaw Project Space,
Cincinnati CityBeat, May 10 -16, 2001, 67.
Gotta Do It, Review of Outsider Art Group Show at Base Gallery, Cincinnati CityBeat,
April 12 - 18, 2001, 49.
The Key to Understanding, Review of Tulu Bayar’s installation at Warsaw Project Space,
Cincinnati CityBeat, January 18 - 24, 2001, 50.
Online Lingo, Review of the paintings of Kim Humphries at The Weston Art Gallery,
Cincinnati CityBeat, January 4 - 10, 2001, 47.
2000 Ageless Art, Review of the work of Jack Meanwell at the Miami University Art Museum,
Cincinnati CityBeat, November 9 - 12, 2000, 65.
Weaving Around, Review of two Fiber and Textile Art Group Shows at the Miller and Malton
Galleries, Cincinnati CityBeat, June 22 - 28, 2000, 58.
Master of the Dirty Wipe, Review of : The Etchings and Drypoints of James McNeill Whistler
at TheTaft Museum of Art, Cincinnati CityBeat, January 6 -12, 2000, 48.
1999 Downtown Eden, Review of the multimedia installation : Point of View: Ceci N’est Pas Un Parc
by student apprentices in the Art Works Program at The Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati
CityBeat, August 26-September 1, 1999, 43.
Brightoning Up, Article detailing the burgeoning art scene in Cincinnati’s Brighton District,
Cincinnati CityBeat, August 19- 25, 1999, 47.
Teaching/Experience
2000 - 2015 Guest Lecturer -- Annual lecture presentation to The Art Academy of Cincinnati’s
"Aesthetics and Criticism" class. Presentation featured slide and video tracing my
career as a fine artist. Lecture addressed issues of intent, dedication, purpose and
spirituality in connection with the path of the artist.
1999 - 2004 Adjunct Instructor -- Art Academy of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH Courses Included:
Intro to Painting, Narrative Drawing, Conceptual Drawing, Drawing as Inquiry and
Fine Art Seminar.
2002 - 2004 Instructor – The Baker-Hunt Foundation, Covington, KY, Portfolio Preparation for
High School Students.
1999 - 2000 Guest Lecturer -- Artists Reaching Classrooms, Artworks Inc. Cincinnati, OH
1989 - 1994 Studio Assistant to Tom Wesselmann, New York, NY
Projects
2007 “Slouching Toward Bethlehem”, 7 minute video collaborative project with Sheri Besso.
2004 The Pullman Square Project: “Artificial Dissemination”, Mural for: Marquee Cinemas,
Huntington, WV. 142 x 852”.
“The Malevolent Muse”, 2 minute multimedia project, “Skin Deep” event, Cincinnati, OH
Collections
Breitling SA
Miami University Art Museum
Arch Nemesis LLC
The Kinsey Institute
Trindle Wealth Management
James Dicke II
Procter and Gamble
Marquee Cinemas
P.J. O’Rourke
News Web Corporation
Fidelity Investments
California Sun Products
Howard A. Tullman Collection
Couri Group Incorporated
Commonwealth Hotels Inc.
Peter Remes Collection
Sara Vance Collection
Buck and Leslie Shiels
Curatorial/Jurying
2008 “The I of the Storm: Eleven Artists on Art and the Creative Spirit”, Collector’s Art Group, Cincinnati, OH
2001 Call to Artists, The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Covington, KY
2001 33rd Annual Duveneck Memorial Art Show, Northern Kentucky Heritage League,Covington, KY