Founder's Series Artists' Talks: Brian Kelley

When the first The Japanese Paper Place (The JPP) store opened in the spring of 1982, one of the first artists to find us was Brian Kelley. He was one of few, at the time, who realized what possibilities lay ahead on these special papers from Japan. He had studied mokuhanga in Japan after graduating from the iconic Pratt Institute, so he had been exposed to washi and what it could do early on.
His love of experimentation and willingness to share his practical knowledge has served the art community in Toronto well, including The JPP. We are immensely grateful for his generosity over the years. He served on the Board of Open Studio from its inception and taught countless workshops there, at The JPP, and art schools — lighting fires in the careers of many artists who carry the Kelley torch today.

We welcome you to join us for an evening of art and an artist's life well-lived, as Brian Kelley shares his decades-long committment to creating, and to washi.

Brian Kelley works across various printmaking techniques, including woodcut, etching and lithography, and painting and drawing. His work is housed in numerous private, corporate and public collections in North America and abroad, including the National Gallery of Canada, IBM Canada, the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland. He has also taught workshops at Open Studio, the PEI Printmakers Association and the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Brian Kelley is a long-time member of Open Studio and held the position of Etching Director from 1975 to 1979.

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