'Images of Old Hawaii' Exhibition at Oahu Country Club, March-April 2025
Over 20 pieces by John and Kate Kelly are on view at Oahu Country Club from March 5-April 11, 2025.
Over 20 pieces by both John and Kate Kelly are on view at Oʻahu Country Club from March 5 through April 11, 2025.
Set against the magnificent backdrop of the Koʻolau Mountains on Oʻahu, the Oʻahu Country Club features a rotating exhibition space in its dining and meeting areas, and an impressive collection of fine artwork by Hawaiʻi's master artists, including D. Howard Hitchcock, a distinguished club member.
While the club’s galleries are open to members only, the pieces in it may be viewed and purchased HERE.
For questions or inquiries regarding any of these pieces, please contact kellyarthawaii@gmail.com.
'100 Years in Hawaii: The Art of John and Kate Kelly' Exhibition Supplement Video
A video detailing the works which appeared in the ‘100 Years in Hawaii’ exhibition at Downtown Art Center, August 1-13, 2023.
Here is a closer look at the incredible photos and artwork that were featured in our last exhibition at Downtown Art Center, held August 1-13 in DAC’s Courtyard Gallery. This video includes rare photos by Kate Kelly that capture a slice of life in old Hawaii circa 1930s, as well as artwork, including some rare paintings, by John Kelly in his exemplary style, of the family's native Hawaiian friends and neighbors. All media is copyright the John and Kate Kelly Estate.
Kate Kelly Mini-Exhibition at National Bahá’í Center of the Hawaiian Islands
Three etchings from the Estate Collection by Kate Kelly are on exhibit at the National Bahá’í Center of the Hawaiian Islands in Honolulu.
Three etchings from the Estate Collection by Kate Kelly are on exhibit at the National Bahá’í Center of the Hawaiian Islands at 3264 Allan Pl. in Honolulu.
On May 13, Cha Smith gave a short presentation on Kateʻs history and her significant contribution to the preservation of Hawaiian culture through her extraordinary photography, sculptures, and dry point etchings.
Below is a biographical poster also on display.
Kate and John were involved with the Bahá’í circle in Honolulu in the mid 1930s. John did an etching of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá, central leader of the Bahá’í faith.
To find out more about the Bahá’í Center and faith, visit bahaihawaii.org.
In Appreciation: A Thank You to Downtown Art Center
The Kelly family is grateful to Downtown Art Center for the opportunity to display the artistry of Kate and John Kelly in Hoʻopuka, To Emerge: The Love of Hula.
Photo: Tracy Chan/Downtown Art Center
The Kelly family is very grateful to Downtown Art Center for the opportunity to display the artistry of Kate and John Kelly. Hoʻopuka, To Emerge: The Love of Hula was a unique and very special exhibit honoring the sacred tradition of hula. Watch a movie of the pieces in the Kelly exhibit here.
Our deep appreciation and gratitude to Floyd Takeuchi for his amazing curation and production skills, and great advice. It was a pleasure to work with him on this special project.
This exhibit allowed Kelly Art Hawaiʻi (the Estate Collection), to showcase Kate’s photographs for the first time, and premiere a bronze statuette of Kate’s hula dancer.
Hula was a subject very dear to John, as he worked in numerous media with a hula theme. This includes oil, charcoal, and pastel.
We were able to rekindle our friendship with Sandy Pohl and marvel at the manifestation of her vision. The DAC is a true gem in Chinatown that is steadily emerging as a vitally important anchor for artists of Hawaiʻi.
Mahalo nui loa to Kumu Hula Auliʻi Mitchell for offering his manaʻo, hula and oli. We all benefited from his generous sharing.
It was heartening to share in the celebration of hula with the amazing artists involved, including:
Nancy Vilhauer
Lauren Okano
Sandra Blazel
Gordan K. Gestrich
Auliʻi Mitchell
Nalamakuikapo Asing
Margo Vitarelli
Floyd Takeuchi
Karen Lucas
The Kelly family could not have produced this exhibit without the amazing contributions of our amazing team:
Noelani Block, for being a gifted framer, photo curator, and great support.
Neil Sananikone, for his scanning genius, guidance, and reassurance.
Linda Yamamoto, for her extraordinary bronze casting of Kate’s hula dancer.
Jackie Mild Lau for her foundry and help with everything!
Dino Cutera for his graphic arts wizardry and for being an installer extraordinaire.
"Hoʻopuku -- To Emerge: The Love of Hula" DAC's 2021 Exhibit
Article published in the Honolulu Star Advertiser highlighting the Kelly pieces featured in August DCA hula exhibit.
Dance Masterpieces, The Honolulu Star Advertiser
The Honolulu Star Advertiser published an article, “Dance Masterpieces: The Work of John and Kate Kelly highlight and exhibition on Hula” on August 1, 2021. You can view the article here via PDF and here on the Honolulu Star Advertiser’s website. Below is an August 1, 2021 article published in the Honolulu Star Advertiser.
August 2021 Exhibit Honors Hula and Features John and Kate Kelly
Exciting News! SAVE THE DATE! August 3-28, 2021. A major exhibit at the new Downtown Art Center (Nuʻuanu @ Hotel St. in Chinatown), will feature the work of John and Kate Kelly as a “show within a show”.
Premiere works by John and Kate Kelly
A major exhibit at the new Downtown Art Center features over 40 works by John and Kate Kelly as a “show within a show”. “Hoʻopuka To Emerge: The Love of Hula” includes a variety of media from 10 other artists.
Floyd Takeuchi, a renown photographer, is curating the exhibit which runs from August 3rd through the 28th. Opening Reception on Friday, August 6 from 5 to 8 p.m.
This will be the first time ever that Kate Kellyʻs extraordinary photography will be exhibited! Hula themed photographs from 1930ʻs and 40ʻs will be premiered. Not to be missed!!
A variety of hula dancers by John Kelly will be exhibited; including drypoint and aquatint etchings, pastels, an oil painting and a work in charcoal.
Some never before seen artwork include:
—A bronze sculpture of Kate’s hula dancer from the early 1930ʻs.
—Kate’s extraordinary vintage photographs of backyard hula.
—Johnʻs duo of large colorful watercolors brialliantly illustrating people strolling in Waikiki on a Saturday afternoon and night.
—Hula dancers by John in a rare range of media, including oil, charcoal, and pastel.
Stay tuned for more information!
Downtown Art Center is located in Honoluluʻs Chinatown District at 1041 Nuʻuanu at Hotel St on the 2nd floor. They are open Tuesday - Sunday from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM.
The Halekulani Hotel Gallery: Interviews and Footage
JOHN KELLY—FROM THE ESTATE COLLECTION
JANUARY 16 - JUNE 2, 2019
John Kelly, from the Estate Collection
JANUARY - JUNE 2019
Grass House (drypoint)
Hawaiian Girl / Marion (color aquatint)
Net Fisherman (color aquatint)
Brown Princess (aquatint)
Hawaiian Girls (color aquatint)
Lei Girlʻs Head (drypoint)
Net Fisherman (drypoint)
Hula Dancer (color aquatint)
Ia Nui (color aquatint)
Iʻa (color aquatint)
Polynesia (color aquatint)
Kauai Coconuts (drypoint)
Kapa Skirt (color aquatint)
Nana / Primitive Hawaiian (color aquatint)
Hawaiian Cowboy (color aquatint)
Red Pareau (color aquatint)
Leilani (drypoint)
Untitled / Old Lei Seller (drypoint)
Lei Makers (drypoint)
MEDIA COVERAGE OF JOHN KELLY, FROM THE ESTATE COLLECTION
Oʻahu Open Studios
We exhibited over thirty images in December 2014 in conjunction with Oahu Open Studios' premier event in Honolulu.
THE ART OF JOHN KELLY—ETCHINGS OF OLD HAWAII
DECEMBER 2014
We exhibited over 30 images in December 2014 in conjunction with O’ahu Open Studio’s premier event in Honolulu. We welcomed about 100 people at our temporary exhibit space at Rubber Stamp Plantation in Kaka’ako.
EXHIBITION: KOA ART GALLERY
THE SKETCHBOOK SHOW: AN EXHIBIT FROM THE ESTATE COLLECTION OF JOHN M. KELLY
JANUARY 2011
THE SKETCHBOOK SHOW
JANUARY 2011
Featured drawings and sketches by John Melville Kelly.
The Koa Art Gallery at Kapi‘olani Community College presents, “The Sketchbook Show.” More than forty of the leading artists in the state are participating. Come see how sketches are the key to understanding how visual ideas are born and how they are developed. Works from classical sketches to quick gestures are included.
Artists who are participating include the late Isami Doi, Joe Feher, John Kelly, John Young, and Tadashi Sato. Contemporary artists include Harry Tsuchidana, Fred Roster, Snowden Hodges, Russell Suanbe, Cade Roster, Dorothy Faison, John Koga, Kandi Everett, Alan Leitner, Hal Lum, Pegge Hopper, Violet Murakami, Chuck David, Debbie Young, Paul Levitt, George Woollard, Duane Preble, Darrell Orwig, and Sally French, to name but a few.
Schaefer International Gallery, Maui Arts and Cultural Center
This exhibit, from the Estate Collection of John M. Kelly was curated by Neida Bangerter, Gallery Director at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, and featured rarely-seen etchings and selected works by Kate Kelly.
JOHN MELVILLE KELLY, THE ARTIST AND THE PRINTMAKER
JULY 2010
This exhibit, from the Estate Collection of John M. Kelly, was curated by Neida Bangerter, Gallery Director at the MACC, and featured rarely-seen etchings and selected works by Kate Kelly.
EXHIBITION: THE PEGGE HOPPER GALLERY
The exhibit premiered many of the printmaker's etchings that had never before been exhibited, with a portion of proceeds from John Kelly's artworks going to benefit the Honolulu Symphony.
IMPRESSIONS OF AN ERA: THE ART OF JOHN KELLY
OCTOBER 2009
MEDIA COVERAGE OF IMPRESSIONS OF AN ERA: THE ART OF JOHN KELLY
EXHIBITION: HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
The Honolulu Academy of Arts produced an extensive exhibit of the etchings of John M. Kelly in October 2005. Curated by Jennifer Saville, this exhibit featured over 250 etching and included his press, tools, and a video presentation. Until 2005, there has not been an exhibit honoring the artist's passing.
HAWAIIAN IDYLL: THE PRINTS OF JOHN MELVILLE KELLY
OCTOBER 2005
The Honolulu Academy of Arts produced an extensive exhibit of the etchings of John M. Kelly in October 2005. Curated by Jennifer Saville, this exhibit featured over 250 etchings and included his press, tools and a video presentation. Until 2005, there had not been an exhibit of the artist’s work since the 1962, when the Academy presented a memorial exhibit honoring the artist’s passing.
John Kelly’s art is an important testimony to the highly complex technical possibilities of print media and to the people and culture of Hawai‘i during the 30s, 40s and 50s.
This beautiful book was published by the Honolulu Academy of Arts in late 2009. In addition to serving as a catalogue of the Academy’s 2005 exhibit by the same name, Hawaiian Idyll also offers a biography with vintage photographs depicting the fascinating life and times of John Kelly and his wife Kate Harland Kelly, a talented sculptor and photographer.
MEDIA COVERAGE OF JOHN KELLY: HAWAIIAN IDYLL
Starbulletin Archives Sept 2005
Hanahou Magazine: The Print Master
Honolulu Advertiser Archives Oct 2005
Honolulu Weekly Sept 21 2005
The Honolulu Academy of Arts is a major repository of John Kelly’s etchings.
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