Pete Kelly - 2002

The Robin Rice Gallery announces a solo exhibition of photographs by Pete Kelly. The opening reception will be held on Wednesday March 6 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The show runs through April 20, 2002.

Pete Kelly’s photographs symbolize the object rather than represent them. They evoke memory through strong associative sometimes emotional, sometimes surreal imagery. Stretching the real toward the fantastic. Surely these images are enhanced by digital means, blurring the line between photograph and painting, but they return to and are informed by roots in the natural.

This elegant collection of twenty photographs, are printed in a classical style of blue/brown split toned hues, with the exception of two 30x 40s in vivid color.

The invitational piece Treeblur, Prospect Park Brooklyn, the lone figure, arms crossed, stands between two trees shot in silhouette, out of focus with a skeleton of a leaf suspended to equilibrium across the shoulder. The figure appears to be meditating, the trees are barren, and the light wrapping around the figure dramatically alters the shape reducing it to a minimal almost abstract form.

Born in NW England, he moved to the United States in 1987, after graduating from Stockport College with BND in Graphic Design/Advertising. He then moved to New York in 1998.

Pete Kelly has been involved in the digital revolution since its inception, adapting and combining photographic and darkroom techniques digitally. In 1999 he won a Silver award at the New York Festival advertising awards for a series of images. In 2000 he taught Digital Imaging at The New School in New York City. Some of his recent clients include: Oceanspray, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Sprint, HNTB Corp., Boehringer Ingelheim and Penguin Putnam. His fine art is in the collections of: Dow & Jones , Sloan-Kettering and the Williamsburg Art & Historical Society. After exhibiting in several group shows, this is his first solo show at the Robin Rice Gallery.