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PETE KELLY

BIOGRAPHY

Pete kelly was born in Cumbria, NW England in October, 1966.
Pete is an emerging photographer both in the Commercial/Portraiture and Fine Art worlds, utilising the computer to layer his imagery and sometimes combining images. He has been involved in the 'Digital Revolution' since the early days, adapting photographic and darkroom fundamentals into Photoshop in the computer. He taught 'Digital Imaging' at The New School in Manhattan, whilst living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in 2001. His digital ability was commended in 1999, when he won an award at the 'New York Festivals' for a series of posters.

Pete has been successful selling his personal work since arriving in New York in 1998, and been part of many Gallery shows: 'The Dow & Jones Permanent Collection', the Sloan-Kettering Permanent Collection, the 'Williamsburg Art & Historical Society', 'Aspen International Art', 'Carrie Haddad Gallery', 'Lightbox Gallery', 'Get Real Art', 'Robin Rice Gallery' and many private collections.

EDUCATION
1984 - Completed a six month internship with The Royal Air Force Photographic unit, Wildenrath, West Germany. Studied all formats of photography 35mm - 8x10. Learned how to process/print Black + White film. Assisted the Photographers.
1986-Studied Graphic Design / Advertising at Stockport College of Technology graduating with a 4 year Degree [HND].
1992 - Completed another six month internship with nationally known photographer Nick Vedros, in Kansas City, MO. Studied all aspects of commercial photography, including lighting, portraiture, set building, still life, table top as well as business skills, billing, casting models, self promotion, and portfolio presentation.

MEDIUM
"My approach to photography is very similar to a painter, I want to interpret more than is actually there, the image capture is just the beginning of the creative process for me. My work is a complex process of multiple photographic layers, some textural, some imagery, layered in Photoshop and output to museum-quality archival Giclee prints, which are then mounted and protected with Oleopasto, [an oil-based medium] and finally, finished with a porcelain craquelure mat/border."

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1995 - Theme Show, at various locations,Kansas City, MO.
1996 - AIDS Benefit, Kansas City, MO - 'Night of a Thousand Stars'.
1997 - Regnier Photography Gallery, Kansas City, MO - 'Mixed Media Shared Ideas'.
1999 - Sloan-Kettering Permanent Photographic Collection. 2000 - Dow Jones Permanent Photographic Collection.
2000 - Robin Rice Gallery, Manhattan, NY. 2001 - Get Real Art, Manhattan, NY.
2002 - Bloomingdales Photographic Collection.
2003 - Aspen International Art, Aspen, Colorado. 2003 - Lightbox Gallery, Kansas City, Missouri.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
1997 - Red Chair Gallery, Kansas City, MO.
2002 - Robin Rice Gallery, Manhattan, NY.
2002 - Carrie Haddad Gallery, Hudson, NY.

INTERVIEW
1. Q. Where and when was your first gallery showing?
A. My first gallery show was at 'Red Chair Gallery' in downtown Kansas City in 1997, curated by Debra Smith.

2. Q. What was your motivation or inspiration to pursue Photography?
A. I am motivated and inspired by my immediate surroundings, my wife, son, dogs, nature and eccentric and unusual people and Photography is the medium I chose to document that because it 'felt right'.

3. Q. How has your work evolved from that first show?
A. My work has evolved by watching and learning from other talented photographers, I assisted several photographers and observed their particular styles, before shaping an identity for myself.

4. Q. Who or what has been an influence in your photography?
A. Man Ray is a big influence on me, as well as Michael Kenna, Keith Carter, Irving Penn and Albert Watson. I also love painters like Howard Eakins, who was one of the first people to combine photographs he'd taken as studies, into paintings.

5. Q. What is visually inspiring or important to you now?
A. I am inspired by beauty, like the beauty of an ancient culture such as Peru, or a dewy leaf in my back garden. I'm also inspired by human energy, a city, like New York where you are likely to see unique people do the strangest things.

6. Q. Is there any specific work or artist that you feel is particularly evocative?
A. Since moving to the Hudson Valley I have started to discover the 'Hudson Valley Painters' like Frederick Church, who painted magical scenes of the Hudson river. The work of Keith Carter is evocative to me, it conveys emotions both dark and uplifting.

7. Q. In what direction do you feel your work is moving or where would you like to go?
A. My work is moving in the direction of the surreal, the romantic even nostalgic, lots of directions. I am especially interested in abstract - silhouette forms and texture, reducing the image to movement and body language.

8. Q. What is your most memorable experience in photography?
A. My most memorable experience I can attribute to photography is going to Peru, walking the Inca Trail and camping on Isla Taquile in lake Titicaca for 3 days solo. I went for an inspirational photo trip and got a lot more out of the experience. I observed a festival, where all the single men under 30 on the island made and wore masks and 'gringo' clothes and danced in the 'Plaza da Armas' surrounded by their female counterparts sat in black robes. The men were holding a piece of rope behind their backs while they were dancing and would periodically throw one end into the crowd to a possible admirer. The 3000 indigineous Qechuan Indians have lived and married within the island population for hundreds of years.

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