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Michael O'Kelly

Ventura, California, United States

Michael O’Kelly : Fine Artist Michael is an accomplished fine artist and classical guitarist startin...

About the artist

Michael O'Kelly

Joined In 2023

(4 Followers)

About the artist

Michael O'Kelly

Joined In 2023

(4 Followers)

ABOUT
EDUCATION
EXHIBITIONS

Michael O’Kelly : Fine Artist
Michael is an accomplished fine artist and classical guitarist starting in his early teens. His painting skills are honed by years spent with infamous British art forger Tom Keating, who trained Michael in Renaissance and Classical techniques. Michael won full scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London. He co-founded the Omega Classical Guitar Quartet, which recorded and toured on three Continents. In 1973 Michael received a full Post Graduate scholarship to the University of Mexico, Mexico City, to study Ethnomusicology and Anthropology and subsequently made important collections of ethnographic art for the British Museum and other European Museums.

“It was a golden age,” he recalls his travels throughout Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, and the Amazon. “It thrilled and inspired me.” The vibrancy and originality of Latin American art made a powerful impression on the young artist. “It changed how I saw color.”

While there, Michael worked with Maestro Rufino Tamayo (for three years). He co-produced the Tamayo retrospective Quincentennial exhibitions at the Hermitage (St. Petersburg), Plastic Arts Museum in Moscow and the Edvard Munch Museum in Oslo. Michael’s personal collection of historical Mexica...

-Royal College of Music in London
-University of Mexico, Mexico City, Ethnomusicology and Anthropology

O’Kelly’s ‘Ventura Historic Mural’ was installed next to the Mission in downtown Ventura, January 2018. A 50-foot long, 9- foot high ceramic masterpiece, created in the California Spanish Revival Style. There is a level of detail and lavishness that is not common with most ceramic murals. Michael has created works of architectural ceramic art for all the Disney parks, City of Los Angeles, cities of Camarillo, San Luis Obispo, Las Vegas and many private clients. O’Kelly received the Ventura Mayor’s Arts Award, the Ventura and Santa Barbara Beautiful awards.

Commissioned artwork available upon request.