Lee Kelly | Yucatán Revisited: Memorial Exhibition | Viewing Room

Jun 22

The Elizabeth Leach Gallery is pleased to present Yucatán Revisited, a memorial exhibition of recent sculptures and works on paper by renowned artist Lee Kelly (1932 - 2022). Kelly was a major figure in the Pacific Northwest and beyond for more than six decades. He is best known for monumental sculptures featured in public and private collections throughout the country.

Lee Kelly, Unicycle Variation, 2021, Corten steel, 124 x 32 x 12", base: 30 x 30"
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The exhibition reflects the influence of Kelly's travels and focuses on modernist works made during the last year of the artist’s life in 2021 and 2022. The show features his dynamic Cor-Ten steel sculptures, along with intimately sized cast bronze forms and works on paper that evoke imagery inspired by the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico where he visited, hiked and climbed throughout his life.

Lee Kelly, Study I, 2008, mixed media collage on paper and board, 16 x 16" framed, INQUIRE>

Lee Kelly, Study II, 2006, mixed media collage on paper and board, 16 x 16", INQUIRE>

Lee Kelly, Untitled (i), 2007, mixed media collage on paper and board, 20 x 18.5" framed, INQUIRE>

Lee Kelly, Untitled (j), 2006, mixed media collage on paper and board, 19 x 18" framed, INQUIRE>

Lee Kelly, Sayil, 2021, Corten steel, 59 x 32 x 14", base: 36 x 18"
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Lee Kelly, Kaba, 2021, Corten steel, 63 x 24 x 5", base: 30 x 22"
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For over six decades, Lee Kelly has defined the possibilities of sculpture – at every scale both public and private – for the Pacific Northwest and beyond. His brilliant investigation of form and substance, life and love, in the immediacy of sculpture leaves a legacy of powerful abstract works that will define our epoch for the future.

– CURATOR BRUCE GUENTHER, OREGON ARTS WATCH, 2022

Lee Kelly, Omark Study, 1983/2021, bronze, 7.5 x 18 x 13"
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Lee Kelly, Manang, 1983/2021, bronze, 12 x 12 x 8"
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INSIDE THE ARTIST’S STUDIO:
LELAND IRON WORKS

Lee Kelly and his grandson, Carter, working in his studio, 2021. Photo provided by the artist’s family.

Installation view of *Uxmal*, 2021 and *Untitled (i)*, 2007

In Memoriam

Renowned artist Lee Kelly, a major figure in the Pacific Northwest and beyond for more than six decades best known for his monumental sculptures has died at age 89 on March 29, 2022 at his home and studio at Leland Iron Works surrounded by family. He is survived by his daughter Kassandra Kelly and his grandchildren, Carter Stirling and Lucy Stirling. His death was announced jointly from his family and the Elizabeth Leach Gallery who has represented his work for 36 years.

Lee Kelly was born in McCall, Idaho in 1932, and his artistic career began in the 1950s. He found inspiration through extensive travels around the globe. These are especially evident in Kelly’s sculptures that synthesize modernist aesthetics with ancient architectural forms. He is perhaps most recognized for his large-scale works in stainless steel and Cor-Ten which remain a central focus at regional institutions such as Reed College, Oregon State University, Catlin Gabel School, the Oregon Health and Sciences University, and the University of Oregon. In 2012, one of his most important works, Memory 99, was installed in Portland’s North Park Blocks, at what is now the home of the Pacific Northwest College of Art. In 2010, he was the subject of a major career retrospective at the Portland Art Museum curated by Bruce Guenther, which was accompanied by a career-spanning monograph. Lee Kelly's prestigious body of work is highlighted in public and private collections throughout the country, including the Portland Art Museum, Oregon; Stanford University, Palo Alto, California; New Orleans Art Museum, Louisiana; Seattle Art Museum, Washington; Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond; and the City of Sapporo, Japan.

In his memory we are honored to share a personal note from Elizabeth Leach Gallery:

Throughout our time working together Lee Kelly exemplified creative passion, clarity of vision and dedication to his artistic process and practice. He was an extraordinary thinker, poet, and adventurous spirit who enjoyed spending time with others —especially at his unique home, studio, and sculpture garden where he welcomed friends and guests to share food, wine and stories together. Lee had an abiding love of poetry and had a practice of keeping notebooks full of sketches and poems that he would read aloud and share in special moments. His brilliance, generosity and sense of humor will be treasured by all who knew him. Our deepest sympathies are with his family and friends. We remember his singular talent and incredible artistic contributions. We will all miss him dearly.