MICHAEL JOHN KELLY

Michael John Kelly’s abstract works seek to uncover the object-ness within abstraction, imagining objects with their own intelligence and personality. His process involves multiple layers, starting with broad, sweeping brushstrokes as an underpainting. He then builds upon this foundation with layers of collage. Kelly also creates digital paintings on his iPad, prints them onto canvas, and then tears and collages the prints onto the original artwork. This layering and digital manipulation result in new, unexpected forms. As Kelly puts it, “I chase what might remain sublime in an ever-increasingly chaotic world.” His work draws from mid-century abstractionists, science fiction, anime, video games, and the raw energy of post-punk music, blending these influences into a unique visual language.

Kelly’s abstract works explore the sublime within a world that is increasingly post-human. While deeply rooted in traditional painting, his practice is also deeply engaged with digital tools, allowing him to reveal emergent forms—intelligences or entities that feel discovered rather than created. His work evokes the chaotic beauty of a constantly changing world.

Kelly earned his MFA in Painting from the University of California, Los Angeles. His residencies in Berlin and Istanbul played a significant role in shaping his approach, blending traditional painting techniques with technological experimentation. His work has been exhibited internationally in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Basel, London, Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Istanbul. He currently lives and works in Los Angeles.

Artist’s CV