Steven Kelso
Renaissance Man …that’s the first description that comes to mind
when you look back at the nearly quarter-century career of
International Artist and Author Steven Kelso.
From his work with the legendary lead vocalist Jon Anderson from
the progressive rock group YES on collaborations in
stained glass to his masterfully styled oil paintings or illustrations for
album cover art to his contributions of artwork to the careers of
Kevin Max and Julian Lennon.
Steven Kelso has lived a multifaceted adventure with an “Extra” part in
the international blockbuster movie Spiderman 2 filmed during one of
his annual art exhibitions in the capital of the art world New York to
his exhibitions in France, Italy and throughout the world participating
in gallery sponsored art expositions in Europe to the Far East.
Kelso's work can be seen in museums, galleries and educational
institutions worldwide with the latest edition of his work going on
permanent display at the Jimi Hendrix Music Academy in Seattle.
Kelso is also the author of 3 books which catalog the road along the
journey with his latest book, Windows of the Soul being inducted into
the Nina Mason Pulliam Historical
Society Special Collections Room in his hometown of Indianapolis.
Steven Kelso (b. 1965) Greatly effected by aberrant dreams and
visions at an early age, Kelso took refuge in the church and his art.
First drawing, and then at the age of 12, painting.
Art became his overriding passion at the age of 17, while still in high
school; Kelso began his life long love affair with oil painting.
His first works reflected apocalyptic themes which seemed to follow
the 1980's mindset of a Communist take over. To strengthen his skills
in draftsmanship
Kelso enrolled at the Indiana University/Purdue University at
Indianapolis
School of Design and Engineering. After working with several
companies in Indianapolis in Engineering Department capacities Kelso
answered the call to dedicate
the rest of his life to his fine art career.
In 1995, Kelso began exhibiting his work professionally. His first solo
exhibition , hosted by the Yepikumoy Gallery in Indianapolis, was the
largest attended exhibition of that year and received an honorable
mention award by Indianapolis based Nuvo Newsweekly.
Monumental exhibitions were installed in Indianapolis through 1996
and 1997, which gave the artist unbelievable confidence and exposure,
most notably at the Vivaldi Gallery.
Patrons began to build and Kelso saw his first international sale in
August 1997, through one of the Vivaldi Gallery shows.
"Return to Eden", the Jackson Pollock inspired painting sold to a
Parisian visiting Indianapolis on holiday. This invaluable beginning
opened doors with the Galerie Konrad/Balthazar in Paris, France.
In 1999, Kelso traveled to Europe for his first solo exhibition in Paris,
France. During the European visit Kelso made the trip to the
San Giovanni Batista Cathedral in Turin, Italy where he met with the
lead deacon of the cathedral and a presentation and donation was
made in honor of the Jubilee 2000 celebration.
"The Kingdom Revealed", Kelso's version of the Shroud of Turin
was put on permanent collection within the cathedral.
The San Giovanni Batista Cathedral is best known for holding the
Shroud of Turin, the so-called death shroud of Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile, back home in the states, word was starting to spread
from a year earlier, when Kelso made his first submissions in
New York and began heavy promotional trips to New York's art
world. Steven signed with agent Ruthie Tucker in the summer of 1999
for which he has been associated with ever since. The last ten years
have been filled with wonderful sales and exposure and is now labeled
a "Contemporary Master" by his New York exhibition home in
Chelsea, the center of the New York art world with the
Amsterdam Whitney International Fine Art Gallery.
Renaissance Man …that’s the first description that comes to mind
when you look back at the nearly quarter-century career of
International Artist and Author Steven Kelso.
From his work with the legendary lead vocalist Jon Anderson from
the progressive rock group YES on collaborations in
stained glass to his masterfully styled oil paintings or illustrations for
album cover art to his contributions of artwork to the careers of
Kevin Max and Julian Lennon.
Steven Kelso has lived a multifaceted adventure with an “Extra” part in
the international blockbuster movie Spiderman 2 filmed during one of
his annual art exhibitions in the capital of the art world New York to
his exhibitions in France, Italy and throughout the world participating
in gallery sponsored art expositions in Europe to the Far East.
Kelso's work can be seen in museums, galleries and educational
institutions worldwide with the latest edition of his work going on
permanent display at the Jimi Hendrix Music Academy in Seattle.
Kelso is also the author of 3 books which catalog the road along the
journey with his latest book, Windows of the Soul being inducted into
the Nina Mason Pulliam Historical
Society Special Collections Room in his hometown of Indianapolis.
Steven Kelso (b. 1965) Greatly effected by aberrant dreams and
visions at an early age, Kelso took refuge in the church and his art.
First drawing, and then at the age of 12, painting.
Art became his overriding passion at the age of 17, while still in high
school; Kelso began his life long love affair with oil painting.
His first works reflected apocalyptic themes which seemed to follow
the 1980's mindset of a Communist take over. To strengthen his skills
in draftsmanship
Kelso enrolled at the Indiana University/Purdue University at
Indianapolis
School of Design and Engineering. After working with several
companies in Indianapolis in Engineering Department capacities Kelso
answered the call to dedicate
the rest of his life to his fine art career.
In 1995, Kelso began exhibiting his work professionally. His first solo
exhibition , hosted by the Yepikumoy Gallery in Indianapolis, was the
largest attended exhibition of that year and received an honorable
mention award by Indianapolis based Nuvo Newsweekly.
Monumental exhibitions were installed in Indianapolis through 1996
and 1997, which gave the artist unbelievable confidence and exposure,
most notably at the Vivaldi Gallery.
Patrons began to build and Kelso saw his first international sale in
August 1997, through one of the Vivaldi Gallery shows.
"Return to Eden", the Jackson Pollock inspired painting sold to a
Parisian visiting Indianapolis on holiday. This invaluable beginning
opened doors with the Galerie Konrad/Balthazar in Paris, France.
In 1999, Kelso traveled to Europe for his first solo exhibition in Paris,
France. During the European visit Kelso made the trip to the
San Giovanni Batista Cathedral in Turin, Italy where he met with the
lead deacon of the cathedral and a presentation and donation was
made in honor of the Jubilee 2000 celebration.
"The Kingdom Revealed", Kelso's version of the Shroud of Turin
was put on permanent collection within the cathedral.
The San Giovanni Batista Cathedral is best known for holding the
Shroud of Turin, the so-called death shroud of Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile, back home in the states, word was starting to spread
from a year earlier, when Kelso made his first submissions in
New York and began heavy promotional trips to New York's art
world. Steven signed with agent Ruthie Tucker in the summer of 1999
for which he has been associated with ever since. The last ten years
have been filled with wonderful sales and exposure and is now labeled
a "Contemporary Master" by his New York exhibition home in
Chelsea, the center of the New York art world with the
Amsterdam Whitney International Fine Art Gallery.
about steven kelso
