In the vibrant world of tattoo art, Michael J Kelly, a talented artist based in Aston, Pennsylvania, has been making a name for himself with his distinctive Black-and-Grey style. His journey in the industry, filled with experiences and artistic growth, is a story worth telling.
Kelly has been tattooing for an impressive thirteen years. His career kicked off at a shop outside Philadelphia, a place that provided him with a wealth of life experiences in a short time. He encountered all sorts of characters there, from quirky coworkers to unusual vagrants, which made every day an adventure. Grateful for those early days, he later moved on to better studios, taking him to cities like New York and San Diego before finally returning to his hometown area. The past few years have been a period of great development for him artistically. He even had an art show last September with his friend and fellow tattoo artist Joe Martin, where they presented around 50 paintings created over the last five years.
The Black-and-Grey style, which has become his signature, entered his artistic world somewhat by chance. Although he tried various styles at the start of his career, including realism, Biomech, and Japanese, and experimented with colors, he always felt more at ease and confident with Black-and-Grey. When he moved to New York in 2016 and worked at ‘Three Kings Tattoo’ in the East Village, lacking an established clientele, he painted flash sheets in Black-and-Grey to attract customers. As he tattooed those designs, the style gained momentum and became a defining aspect of his work.
When it comes to the often dark and disturbing subjects in his art. He simply draws what captures his interest. Growing up, his father’s art, featuring dragons, warriors, and other fantasy elements, along with comic books and works by renowned artists, influenced him. However, Kelly believes he would have been drawn to such “dark” imagery regardless. His work not only showcases his artistic skills but also reflects his unique perspective and passion for tattoo art, inspiring others in the industry to explore their own creative paths.
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