About the Artist
John Kelley
John Woodrow Kelley, born in 1952 in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a representational artist known for his classical realism, often drawing inspiration from Greek mythology and Western art traditions. Kelley studied art history at the University of Tennessee and later earned a Master’s degree in architecture from Pratt Institute in New York. He initially worked in architecture but eventually shifted focus to painting, studying at the Art Students League and the New York Academy of Art under the mentorship of Ted Seth Jacobs.
Kelley's work reinterprets classical themes, using mythological subjects and portraiture to explore timeless human experiences. His style is a reaction to modern abstraction, seeking to restore a sense of spiritual permanence through representational art. His work has been showcased at venues such as the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Yale University. His print Andalusia Rose, created for the 20th Annual Community Holiday Festival at Lincoln Center in 1990, is a notable piece that demonstrates his skill in combining realism with classical aesthetics
