We at Art21 were very saddened to hear the news about artist Mike Kelley‘s passing on February 1, 2012. We had the privilege of working with the artist in 2004 and 2005 for a segment in Season 3 of Art in the Twenty-First Century, and he remained a beloved friend of the organization since.
“I knew by the time I was a teenager that I was going to be an artist. There was no doubt about that. There was nothing else for me to be.” —Mike Kelley in the Art in the Twenty-First Century episode, Memory
Though we mourn the loss of a great artist, we celebrate with much joy his impact on art and culture at large, knowing that his work will continue to touch, inspire, and challenge all viewers who come across it.
Learn more about the life and work of Mike Kelley on Art21.org.