Alton Kelley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alton Kelly (1940-06-17)June 17, 1940 |
| Died | June 1, 2008(2008-06-01) (aged 67) |
| Known for | concert posters, logos, album covers, fine art |
| Movement | Psychedelic art |
Alton Kelley (June 17, 1940 – June 1, 2008) was an Americanartist known for hispsychedelic art, in particular his designs for 1960s rock concert posters and album covers. Along with artistsRick Griffin,Stanley Mouse,Victor Moscoso andWes Wilson, Kelley founded the Berkeley Bonaparte distribution agency in order to produce and sell psychedelic poster art.
Along with fellow artist Stanley Mouse, Kelley is credited with creating the wings and beetles on allJourney album covers as well as the skull and roses image for theGrateful Dead. Kelley's artwork on the 1971 self-titled live album,Grateful Dead, incorporated a black and white illustration of a skeleton byEdmund Sullivan, which originally appeared in a 19th-century edition of theRubáiyát of Omar Khayyám.
In 1995, Kelley designed and printed a limited edition poster ofJack Kerouac to raise money for the Jan Kerouac Benefit Fund. Kelley is also credited for the cover art for theKing's X albumEar Candy in 1996.
He was brought up in Connecticut and worked as a welder there.[1] In 1966-1967, Kelley had his studio at 715 Ashbury (across the street from 'the Grateful Dead house') along withStanley Mouse,Rick Griffin, andVictor Moscoso.[2][3]
He died on June 1, 2008, at the age of 67, after a long illness.[4][5][6]
