Born in Dublin in 1950, the second of two sons, Phil (as he was known to everyone) spent his early years living in Bray, Co. Wicklow. Kelly later moved to Birmingham, where his father, Geoffrey, worked as an architect.
His love of Jazz, urban life and bright sunlight decided his destination to Mexico City in 1983 with the measly sum of $50 in his pocket. Undeterred, Phil found work teaching English, and settled in the “functioning chaos” of Mexico City.
In 1985, a severe earthquake
struck the city, killing thousands of people including his girlfriend and destroying his home, and all of his artwork. Grief stricken he retreated to England, but he missed the pulse, heat and colour of Mexico City and returned to the sprawling metropolis in 1989.
In 1996, Jonathan Riley, a close friend of Phil’s contacted the Frederick Gallery, in Dublin to discuss having an exhibition of Phil's work in Ireland. Phil, his wife Ruth Munguia, and two daughters, Ana Elena and Maria José arrived in Dublin, and stayed with the then Mexican ambassador to Ireland, Daniel Dultzin. The visit led to his first solo show in 1997, and he had further shows there in 2000, 2002 and 2004.
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