Ben Kelly

Ben Kelly is an exciting new talent to emerge from the North of England. Born in Manchester, Ben completed his undergraduate degree in Illustration at the University of Wolverhampton before moving on to Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London where he completed his MA in Illustration. 

Ben’s work is characterised by strong verticals often in the form of trees, some of them referencing the strong line of guitar strings within the trunk, alongside elongated, 'Lowry-esque' figures both grouped and alone. Appearing to look at the passage of time through our interaction with landscape, Ben’s geometric intersection of light and shadow seems to question the relationship between time and experience.

He says, ‘My work looks at interaction within the fabric of landscape, people lost in thought, alone or together, moving from one place to another.’

Ben won the prestigious Football in Fine Art Award in 2006 before going on to accept Manchester City Football Club Artist in Residence 2008/09. His work can be found in many important private collections including Turner Prize Winner Mark Wallinger’s and has been exhibited, amongst others, at the Lowry Centre, the Unilever Gallery, the National Football Museum and the University of Cambridge.