Mike Kelley is Dead. His Art Isn’t0

It is safe to say that initial reports are correct and it is indeed true that American artist Mike Kelley has passed away of an apparent suicide in his Los Angeles home on Feb. 1st.  He was 57.  In light of his passing I would rather like to concentrate on the beautiful contribution he has left the world of art.

Even though I have seen many of Kelley’s works in my life, I still most associate him with the knitted figures which he made in the early nineties, one of which famously appears on the Sonic Youth album, Dirty.  ArtInfo has put up a great slideshow showing a retrospective of his work.  I have included the Sonic Youth album cover to stir up some 90′s emotions and some of his recent work. You can also watch this insightful documentary about his work, and see more of his recent works at the Gagosian Gallery website.

It is incredibly sad that his life is over and even sadder the circumstances of his death, but I find it better to celebrate what a wonderful artist and what a great body of work that he has left us all.

Mike Kelley – Sonic Youth/Dirty, 1992

Mike Kelley – Twin Henrys, 2009

Mike Kelley – Mr. and Mrs. Hermaphrodite (2-Part), 2005