“Beauty is truth, truth is beauty… that is all Ye know on earth, and all Ye need to know” - John Keats

While I believe artwork should largely speak for itself, there are some aspects to the making of this work that if known may enhance the understanding and provide a more complete perspective in the viewing of these images. 

Post production work for my photographs consists of toning, contrast adjustments, light dodging/burning, spotting and cropping. Nothing else. The still life compositions, figure studies, landscapes and botanical studies are straight forward enough with little need for elaboration. The Wet Silk Series on the other hand benefits from a little “behind the scenes” knowledge.

These fantastical works are not composites (layered or sandwiched images) and they are not “photo-shopped” or manipulated into existence through picture editing software. At first look these unlikely images may seem “layered” or artificially created with elements digitally assembled…this is not the case…if you look closely it will become apparent that they are not that.

Fine fabrics, liquids and precise light are my tools of choice and through combination provide the ethereal atmosphere and unusual characters you will find in the surreal sections of the site. From molten metal nudes, gothic princesses and tribal queens to gladiators and morbid vampires…the characters and sets were all created with fabric, liquids and carefully controlled light. Here you can glimpse into a fantasy world where anything is possible…from the sensually beautiful to the macabre.

I would be remiss if I did not share the dominant inspiration behind my current work. For a 10 year period which spanned from 2008 to 2018 I did little photographic work. In 2008 after my last solo show, I entered a period where I began to lose the desire to make photographs. By 2010 it had all but vanished - the inspiration was gone. I was done making pictures. I gave my cameras away. Finished. I instead focused on development and expansion of my international gallery business. Ten years is a long time. In early 2018 that long darkness was upended when my Muse first appeared to me. The time was right. For now this powerful, natural creative force…this Muse… must remain nameless, yet touches all that you see here.

This website and the work contained in it is dedicated to my Muse… without whom none of it would exist. - Kelly William Wright

Kelly William Wright is a professional photographic artist and gallerist based in Tampa, Florida. He began photographing at the age of 6 years when he received his first camera. A winner of numerous international competitions his work has appeared in magazines such as Dwell and Coastal Living and his prints are collected worldwide. Kelly’s subject matter includes fine art nude studies, landscapes, still life and surreal compositions. His work has been described as cinematic, intense and zen like in simplicity. Today Kelly divides his time between creating art and his expanding international gallery business. He lives and works out of Tampa, Florida and Beverly Hills, California.