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Ramon Kelley

The art career of Ramon Kelley began early when he drew in the margins of his school books in Cheyenne, Wyoming. After four years in the U.S. Navy, he won a scholarship to the Colorado Institute of Art. For many years now, he and his family have lived in Denver where he has built an award-winning reputation in various media: oil, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, conte crayon, pastel and sculpture.

Ramon Kelley’s sensitive character studies are included in the Seattle Frye Museum, the Santa Fe New Mexico Museum of Fine Art, and the Denver Library, along with other public and private collections. Winner of numerous awards and critical acclaim, Kelley is a member of the Watercolor Society, the Oil Painters of America , the Allied Artists of America , National Academy of Western Art, Knickerbocker Artists, and the Pastel Society of America. In 1985, the Pastel Society of America designated Ramon a Master Panelist, and in 1986, Ramon was elected to the Pastel Hall of Fame by the Pastel Society of America, New York City.

Kelley has been profiled in numerous magazines, including American Artist, Southwest Art, and Art of the West. He is co-author of Ramon Kelley Paints Portraits and Figures with Mary Carrol Nelson, and the author of The Five Essentials Of Every Powerful Painting.

Kelley’s work is represented by Ventana Fine Art, Santa Fe, N.M.; Huntsman Fine Art, Aspen, Colo.; Heritage Gallery, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Horizon Fine Art, Jackson, Wyo.; Howard Portnoy Gallery, Carmel, Calif.; Paint Horse Gallery, Breckenridge, Colo.; Mocking Bird Gallery, Bend, Ore.; Gore Creek Gallery, Vail, Colo.; and Sylvan Gallery, Charleston, S.C.

EXHIBITIONS (Selected)
2003 11th Anniversary Show, Portnoy Galleries, Carmel, California
2002 10th Anniversary Show, Portnoy Galleries, Carmel, California
1999 One Man Exhibition, Portnoy Galleries, Carmel, California
1987-1997 One Man Exhibitions, Ventana Fine Art, Sante Fe, New Mexico
1996 Prix de West Invitational, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1994 One Man Show, Wyoming State Museum, Cheyenne, Wyoming
1994 Pastel Show, Luminous Gallery, Talchung, Taiwan
1981-1998 Artists of America, Denver Rotary Club, Denver, Colorado
1979-1993 Group Exhibitions, National Academy of Art, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1976-1995 Group Exhibitions, Pastel Society of America, New York, New York

MAJOR CREDITS
1996 – Art Masters Award, NYC
1995 – Pastel Society of America, NYC (Virginia M. Ward Memorial Award)
1994 – Pastel Society of America, NYC (Mr. and Mrs. A. Giffuni for Exceptional Merit Award)
1994 – Wyoming State Museum, One Man Show, Cheyenne, Wyoming
1993 – The Allied Artists of America, NYC (Grumbacher Gold Medal)
1993 – The Colorado 100 certificate of Recognition (for contributions and lasting impact on the arts in Colorado)
1993 – Pastel Society of America, NYC (Barbara and Gary Scott Award for Landscape)
1992 – Pastel Society of America, NYC (Pastel Society of America Board of Directors Award)
1990 – Elected to the Colorado Institute of Art Hall of Fame
1988 – Pastel Society of America (Columbus Club Ladies Auxiliary, Award for Excellence)
1986 – Elected to the Pastel Hall of Fame, Pastel Society of America
1985 – Pastel Society of America, NYC, Master Pastellist Designation
1983 – Museum of Native American Cultures, Washington (Honored Guest 1983, Founder and Charter Member, Monac Artists Society Silver Award 1983)
1982 – Pastel Society of America Exhibition, NYC (Barbara & Vincent Giffuni Award)
1981 – Pastel Society of America Exhibition, NYC (Joyce & Elliot Lisdin Award for Southwest Art)
1980 – Museum of Native American Cultures, Spokane, Washington (Best of show)
1979 – Kalispell Art show and Auction, Kalispell, Montana (Best of Show medal)
1979 – Pastel Society of America Exhibition, NYC (Members Award Portrait)
1977 – Pastel Society of America Exhibition, NYC
1977 – Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado (Meritorious Award)
1977 – Southwestern Drawing Biennial, Tucson, Arizona
1977 – George Phippen Memorial Exhibition, Prescott, Arizona (Silver medal, Drawing; Bronze medal, Mixed Media)
1977 – American Watercolor Society 110th Annual Exhibition, NYC (Traveling exhibition)
1976 – Pastel Society of America Exhibition, NYC (Trump Award “Exceptional Merit”)
1976 – American Watercolor Society 109th Annual Exhibition, NYC (Traveling exhibition) 1976 – Mainstreams ’76 9th Annual Exhibition, Marietta College, Ohio (H. Lester Cook Memorial Award, Award of Distinction, Purchase Award)
1975 – Pastel Society of America Exhibition, NYC (Pope Foundation Award)
1975 – American Watercolor Society 108th Annual Exhibition, NYC (Emily Lowe Memorial Award; Traveling exhibition)
1975 – Mainstreams ’75 8th Annual Exhibition, Marietta College, Ohio (Award of Distinction)
1974 – Allied Artists of America, NYC
1974 – National Arts Club Pastel Exhibition, NYC (Betty & Leone Peters Award)
1974 – American Watercolor Society 107th Annual Exhibition, NYC (Traveling exhibition)
1973 – Allied Arts of America, NYC (Salmagundi Club Prize)
1973 – Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado (Meritorious Award)
1973 – American Watercolor Society 106th Annual Exhibition, NYC (Traveling exhibition)
1972 – Allied Artists of America, NYC
1972 – American Watercolor Society 105th Annual Exhibition, NYC (Traveling exhibition)
1972 – Mainstreams ’72, 5th Annual Exhibition, Marietta College, Ohio]
1971 – Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colorado (Meritorious Award)
1971 – American Watercolor Society 104th Annual Exhibition, NYC (Helen Gapen Oehler Award; Travelling exhibition)

INVITATIONAL SHOWS
Colorado Governor’s Invitational Art Show, Loveland, CO 1996, 1997, 1998
Governor’s Invitational Western Art Show, Cheyenne, WY 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
Prix de West Invitational, Oklahoma City, OK 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001
Denver Rotary Club Artists of America, Denver, CO 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1994, 1995, 1996
National Academy of Western Art, Oklahoma City, Ok 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985 (Silver medal in oil), 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993
Luminous Gallery, Pastel Show, Taichung, Taiwan – 1994
Albuquerque Museum, Mineatures/91, Albuquerque, NM – 1991
The Rotary Club of Amarillo Art Exhibition and Sale, Amarillo, TX – 1988, 1989
A.R. Mitchell Memorial Museum and Gallery, Trinidad, CO – 1987
Western Art Rendezvous, Helena, MT – 1979
Santa Fe Festival of the Arts, Santa Fe, NM – 1977
Charles and Emma Frye Museum of Fine Art, Seattle, WA – 1973
Tucson Art Center, Western Art Show, Tucson, AZ – 1971
Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, Beaux Ball, Dallas, TX – 1971
Oklahoma City Museum of Fine Art at Redridge, Oklahoma City, Ok – 1971

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
George Amos Memorial Library, Gillette, WY
Charles & Emma Frye Museum of Fine Art, Seattle, WA
Denver Public Library, Denver, CO
El Museo de Las Americas, Denver, CO
Harmsen Collection of the Art of the West (recently donated to Denver Art Museum)
Marietta College, Marietta, OH
New Mexico Museum of Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
Museum of Native American Cultures, Spokane, WA
Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, Pueblo, CO
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
West Point Military Academy, New York

WRITTEN IN
The Artist Magazine – 1999, 2002
American Artist Magazine (special issue) Art Masters Award
American Artist Magazine – June 1992, December 1972, 1969
Art Exhibit – July 1989
Artists of the Rockies – 1974
Art of the West – July/August 1991 and 1996, January/February 2002 Article & Cover Focus/Santa Fe – 1989
International Artist Magazine – August/September 2001
International Fine Art Collector – 1991
La Revue Modern, Paris, France – 1972
Pastel Artist International – November/December 1999, January 2000
Santa Fean Magazine – September 1982 and 1988
Southwest Art Magazine – May 2001, May 1998, September 1982, November 1973, December 1972
Southwest Art Magazine Cover – July/August 1974
Today’s Art – August 1975
Book – Masterworks of Impressionism by Arlene Doran Kirkpatrick – 1985
Book – How to Paint Figures in Pastel by Joe Singer
Book – Ramon Kelley Paints Portraits and Figures – by Ramon Kelley and Mary Carrol Nelson
Book – The Five Essentials in Every Powerful Painting – by Ramon Kelley

LISTED IN
Who’s Who in American Art
Who’s Who in the West
Who’s Who in Art and Antiques – London, England

MEMBER OF
American Watercolor Society
Allied Artists of America – Honorary Member
Knickerbocker Artists
National Academy of Western Art
Oil Painters of America, Representational
Pastel Society of America
Whiskey Painters of America