Leon Kelly: Beyond Surrealism

The American artist Leon Kelly (1901–1982) is known for his surrealist work. However, his career, which spanned fifty years, was also influenced by cubism, abstraction and social realism. With handsome full-page reproductions, this volume provides a new look at the extensive oeuvre of a fascinating artist with an innately reclusive nature.Solitary by nature, Leon Kelly lived and worked on his paintings and drawings in seclusion. This enabled him to create a fascinating oeuvre without the influences and restrictions of contemporary fashions. Today, his works can be found in the collections of renowned American museums such as the Metropolitan Museum, the Whitney Museum, MoMA, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The largest European collection is owned by Mr and Mrs Plewig: it covers all phases and styles and is made accessible in this opulently illustrated volume. The collectors give a personal and sensitive account of their encounters with the artist, and the art expert Uwe Jourdan analyses Leon Kelly’s style and working methods.