Title
Round
Woodblock, Echizen Kozo paper
unframed, 23 x 28 inches
Estimated Value Range:
$2,500 - $3,500
Starting Bid: $1,250
Bidding increments: $250
The Fowlers met Daniel Kelly in a bar in Japan. As fellow Americans traveling abroad, they began talking and sharing their travels and interests. Drawn to Kelly’s devotion to Japanese culture and intrigued by his aesthetic, the Fowlers acquired several of his artworks over the years and maintained a strong friendship with the artist.
Kelly (b. 1947, Idaho Falls, ID) is an American painter, printmaker, and multimedia artist based in Kyoto, Japan. His work seamlessly blends Western and Eastern influences, particularly through his expertise in Japanese woodblock printing, while also embracing contemporary techniques. Kelly’s art reflects a deep exploration of texture, cultural fusion, and symbolic narratives, offering a unique perspective on both personal and collective histories.
More:
Daniel Kelly
Artistic Practice
Kelly’s artistic process begins with creating three-dimensional collages, which often incorporate materials indigenous to Japan, such as tatami mats and bamboo. These collages serve as a foundation for his mixed-media paintings, where he explores the relationship between space, form, and symbolism. In his printmaking, Kelly works primarily with woodblock and lithography, using chine-collé techniques to integrate elements like antique Japanese book pages, ukiyo-e prints, and calligraphy. By fusing these materials into his prints, Kelly creates intricate visual narratives that draw from both Eastern traditions and his Western background.
Kelly’s woodblock prints are notable for their large scale—he is believed to have created the largest woodblock prints ever made in Japan. The detailed and layered nature of his work is both a technical feat and a rich reflection of his ongoing dialogue with cultural memory. In his paintings, Kelly continues to explore the themes of texture, cultural exchange, and the natural world, often incorporating elements of personal and mythological symbolism to infuse his work with deep emotional resonance.
Notable Works and Exhibitions
Kelly’s work has been featured in major exhibitions and collections worldwide, and his prints and paintings are celebrated for their striking technical precision and cultural depth. His exhibitions have spanned continents, showcasing his contributions to the world of printmaking and painting. He has also been instrumental in bringing traditional Japanese techniques to a wider audience, all while incorporating elements of his own cultural heritage.
About the Artist
Kelly’s interest in art began in childhood, particularly through his exposure to the Western works of C.M. Russell, whose depictions of the American West left a lasting impression. His formal art education began at the University of Oregon, where he studied glassblowing and ceramics before discovering his passion for Japanese art. A pivotal moment came when he purchased a book about Japanese woodblock prints by Tomikichirō Tokuriki, which led him to travel to Kyoto. There, he studied under Tokuriki, eventually becoming an apprentice. This apprenticeship would shape his artistic voice and propel him into a career dedicated to the exploration of traditional printmaking techniques within a modern context.
Kelly’s prints and paintings blend the historical with the contemporary, inviting viewers to contemplate themes of identity, history, and the natural environment. His work, often described as poetic and meditative, captures the subtle nuances of cultural exchange and the universality of human experience.
Selected Collections
Museum of Modern Art, New York
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
British Museum, London
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
Library of Congress, Washington, DC
National Museum of American Art, Washington, DC
Cincinnati Museum of Art, Cincinnati, OH
New York Public Library, New York, NY
