Thomas Kelly

Thomas Kelly is an award winning, New Jersey, USA based painter. Widely collected, his work has a signature style, which has its roots in Expressionism. His colorful, narrative, acrylic paintings on canvas often create a dialogue with the viewer. His deceptively simplistic paintings are both critically acclaimed and very approachable by everyday viewers. More than 350 of Kelly’s original paintings have been collected.
 
Artist Statement 2019
“My paintings are of common scenes, every day occurrences in which people struggle to establish and maintain relationships. It is these universal emotions and situations which most interest me.”
 
The paintings are acrylic on canvas, which lends to the way I work. The idea begins from a tiny sketch. That sketch will have the emotional feeling or gesture that first intrigued me.
 
I encourage viewers to participate in the narrative by placing themselves inside my scenes and characters. When asked by viewers if their interpretation is the true one, I say, ‘The paintings must stand on their own.’  I don’t tell them that their stories often rival my own.”

Gallery Representation
Walter Wickiser Gallery, New York City
The Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown, NJ
The Bethlehem House Gallery, Bethlehem PA
Beauregard Fine Art, Rumson NJ

Please contact the galleries for commission inquiries.

​Thomas Kelly
 
Born     1963      Trenton NJ
 
Solo Exhibitions
2016   Bethlehem House Gallery, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
2014   The Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown, NJ. The Sports Icon Series
2013   The Gallery at Chapin, Princeton NJ
2012   The Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown, NJ
2008   Art & Sole Gallery,  Avon-by-the Sea, NJ
2007   The Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown, NJ
2004   The Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown, NJ
1999   The Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown, NJ
1999   The Urban Word Café, Trenton, NJ
1998   TAWA  Invitational, Trenton City Museum, Trenton, NJ
 
Two and Three Person Exhibitions
2002   Trenton City Museum with Isabella Natale and Jack Knight, Trenton NJ
2000   The Gallery at Mercer County College with Loring Hughes, W. Windsor NJ
 
Selected Group Exhibitions
2017  Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
2015  Trip the Light Fantastic, Gallerie Chiz, Pittsburgh, PA
2015  Impressions, Art of the Print, Trenton City Museum, Trenton NJ,
2012  Trenton Makes, Prince Street Gallery, NY, NY
2009  Confluence of Culture IV, Walter Wickiser Gallery, NY, NY
2008  Just the Figure, Walter Wickiser Gallery, NY, NY
2003  Artstrings, traveling exhibition with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra
2001  Trenton Artists at NJ State Museum, Trenton, NJ
1997  Traditional Methods, Printmaking Council of NJ, Somerville, NJ
1997  Images on Paper, Trenton City Museum, Trenton, NJ
1996  Trenton Artists, Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ
1995  Painting Exhibition, Princeton Art Association, Princeton, NJ
1994  Ellarslie Open, Trenton City Museum, Trenton, NJ
1994  NJ Small Works, Mariboe Gallery, Hightstown, NJ
 
Selected Awards
2009 Paxson Hill Award, Phillips Mill Exhibition, New Hope, PA
2000  Jurors Award, Ellarslie Open, Trenton City Museum, Trenton, NJ
1997  Fine Arts Achievement Award, Mercer County College, West Windsor, NJ
1997 Honorable Mention, Monmouth Arts Council Annual Exhibition, Red Bank, NJ
1995 Award of Merit, "Works on Paper", Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
1995 Best in Show, Painting, Student Exhibit, Mercer County College, W. Windsor, NJ
1994 Award of Merit, "Works on Paper", Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
 
Selected Public Collections
Evel Knievel Museum, Topeka, Kansas
Copelouzos Family Art Museum, Athens Greece
Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, NJ
Trenton City Museum, Trenton, NJ
Mercer County Community College, West Windsor, NJ
Marriott Hotel Lafayette Yard, Trenton, NJ
 
Education
1997 Associate Degree in Fine Arts, Mercer County College, West Windsor, NJ
1988 Tool & Die Apprenticeship, KNF Neuberger, Inc., Princeton, NJ
 
Selected Lectures
2018  Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, NJ
2016  50th Annual NJ Senior Citizen Art Exhibit
2013  Chapin School, Lawrenceville, NJ
2012  Princeton Rotary, Nassau Club, Princeton NJ
2012  The Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown NJ
2012  Morgan School, Mercerville NJ
2012  Trenton Museum Society, Trenton NJ
2010  Trenton Artists Workshop Association, Trenton NJ
2010  Penn State University, Malvern PA
2009  Artists of Bristol, PA
2008  The Artful Deposit Gallery, Bordentown NJ
2008  Allentown Art Guild, Allentown NJ
2002  Trenton City Museum, Trenton NJ
2000  Mercer County College, West Windsor NJ