Ray Kelsey

Auckland based artist Ray Kelsey produces landscape paintings that focus on the sublime qualities of the sky. Kelsey employs a drawing based approach to painting, working in short diagonal strokes on a black canvas. He layers colour beside colour, building a dramatic, moving, textural 'heaven' anchored by a minimalist earthen base.

Kelsey's compositions are unique in the way he gives sky predominance, the landscape forms are belittled by the immensity of the airspace above which is portrayed as alive- full of energy and movement. As the artist describes, "Some time ago I became fascinated with skies. We can’t get away from them and they dominate our lives –but do we really notice? Do we really see what colour, what textures the skies portray?"

Kelsey is an ex advertising man, having spent much of his life designing and creating for other people, he is pleased to be able to finally create for himself. Kelsey has exhibited his work in Australia and New Zealand.