Lee Kelly  was born in 1932 in McCall, Idaho, grandson of a ranching family located near Riggins. He  attended 
Vanport  University and the Portland Art Museum School, now known as Pacific Northwest  College of Art. 
In 1979, Lee first visited Nepal with his wife, artist Bonnie  Bronson. This led to further travels to Asia, Mexico, 
and Central America during  which he explored the art and architecture of these cultures. In 1985, he was    
awarded an Oregon Arts Commission grant to study the traditional bronze casting  methods of the Newari 
people of the Kathmandu Valley, in Nepal. His collaboration  with local Nepali artists lasted several years, 
and coincided with his interest  in high-altitude adventure and mountaineering. In 1987 he was awarded the
Governor's Award for the Arts and in 1992 a Masters Fellowship in Sculpture from the State of Oregon. 
His work is represented in  numerous public collections, universities, businesses, medical facilities, and 
private homes and gardens  in Oregon, Washington, California, Texas and Virginia.   Known for his monumental 
public artworks, he has continued to adapt to new technologies as they became  available.  2008 is the anniversary 
of fifty years as a working sculptor.  Lee divides his time between his sculpture studio in a converted dairy barn 
on his farm in Oregon City, and the home of his long-time partner, Susan, in Portland.  Lee Kelly is represented 
by the Elizabeth Leach Gallery, Portland, Oregon.

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