Raised in both Oklahoma and Texas, Greg Kelsey spent most of his life around two parallel interests, art and ranching. His sculptures reflect his long involvement with 'cowboy life' and his love of western history.

He grew up working his grandfather's registered longhorn herd and nurtured a love for western traditions and cowboy living. He now finds contentment watching his own modest longhorn herd spread out across a pasture. With a growing art career and young family he still finds time to crawl on the back of a horse every day and gain a little peace of mind and inspiration.

Kelsey's western themes stem from a rich western lifestyle. He comments: "Whether it's buckin' horses, ropin', pushin' cows or whatever, that's where I get my inspiration for art and for everyday decisions. That's the current, right there. You get out of the current and all those ideas and abilities seem to pass you by. Get back in the saddle and it's all there again."

He grew up in an artistic family environment and observed sculpting and the lives of others making a career of it. But his own artistic calling wasn't brought to the fore until he went back to college to get his Art degree. He stuck his hands in the clay for the first time in late 1997 at age 26 and hasn't put it down since. He discovered a passion for sculpting, designing, and strives to capture emotion and gesture and transfer energy and movement into each piece.

Greg Kelsey won the Artists' Choice Award with his sculpture, "Little Brother of War" at the C.M. Russell Art Auction in March 2001. It was his first time to attend the auction and his first juried show.

In May 2001 Greg was awarded Best of Show - Sculpture with "Playing to the Wind" at the National Western Art Show & Auction in Ellensburg, Washington and the Artist Roundup Award for the best new artist in attendance.

December 2002 brought the First Place Sculpture award at the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) Open Art Show hosted by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Artists Association in Las Vegas, Nevada with "My Own Buckin' Business".

In January of 2003, Greg won the Best Sculpture Award at the Night of the Artists in San Antonio, Texas. The Art Sale and Gala was hosted by The National Center for American Western Art. September of 2003 brought the Silver Medal Award at the Bosque Art Competition in Clifton, TX for "Drinkin' with the Ladies".

Of his art, Kelsey comments, "As soon as I stuck my hands in the clay for the first time, it was like somebody pushed the accelerator to the floorboard -- it was an immediate love." He continues to sculpt with that first love intensity. His goal is to create sculpture that captivates viewers.

 

 

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