A Northern California native, Jay Kelly settled in Venice, California after earning his Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology from UCLA. Following college, Kelly began his career as a graphic designer with clients ranging from Sony Electronics and Nissan to independent film projects, yet he quickly emerged as a notable fine artist. His unique style of creating life-like portrait collages out of books, photos and magazines has attracted the attention of collectors across the country and has recently lead to several major commissions.
His work has been featured in exhibitions around the world and can be found in numerous corporate and private collections throughout the country. In addition, Kelly’s work can be seen in the feature film Donnie Darko, in a recent episode of the art and travel television show TV Frames, and in a feature article in Malibu Magazine. A selection of Kelly’s work is also currently on display at the popular Santa Monica club, Zanzibar including two pieces that serve as the club’s permanent outdoor signage.