Phil Kelly (1950-2010)

Phil Kelly was reared in England and was of Irish extraction. He became a Mexican citizen in 1999 and has been described as an "Irish Expressionist". He studied Art and Special Education in Bath and travelled in Europe and painted widely after graduation with fellow artist Ann Woods exhibiting in small galleries all the while. At this stage his influences included among others Jack Butler Yeats. His first trip to Mexico was in 1982. It lasted three years and had a dramatic effect on his work. After a time in London he returned in 1989 and married Ruth Munguia, an arts professional who helped manage Kelly`s career. Regular exhibitions of Kelly`s work followed in both Mexico (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo in Mexico City: Babel Descrifada) and London (Westbourne Gallery and The Hay Festival of Literature) in 1996. Both received wide media coverage. The following year The Frederick Gallery in Dublin hosted his first Irish solo show, opened by the Mexican Ambassador to Ireland and other exhibitions followed at Hillsboro Fine Art. Phil Kelly and Seamus Heaney became friends during their careers and Kelly`s illustrations accompanied some of Heaney`s publications in Mexico. Kelly`s oeuvre is dominated by urban scenes from Mexico City. His work can be found in private collections internationally and in The Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City and The Museum of Modern Art of Oaxaca. His work has been widely reproduced in publications in Mexico, Ireland and in the UK.