Phil Kelly paints with his fingers because he is averse to washing brushes.

Born in Dublin in 1950, the Irish painter and traveler studied at the University of Bristol in England before setting off to see the world, living in multiple countries.

He eventually found his calling in Mexico City, where he developed his career as a painter.

Kelly has been based in the colorful metropolis for the past twenty-six years, working with lively brushstrokes and vibrant colors to portray the daily life of Mexico City’s urban landscapes.

Kelly has shown his work in solo exhibitions in various cities in Mexico as well as in Dublin, and many of his paintings are in private collections in Mexico, the United States, England, Ireland, Germany and Portugal. Kelly also painted a portrait of Seamus Heaney, fellow Top 100 honoree, in 1999.

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