RAYMOND E KELLY

KELLY--Raymond E. Artist, Sculptor, leader of the Rivington School and co- founder of the performance space NoSeNo, in NYC's Lower East Side, Cowboy Ray Kelly (Raymond Eugene Kelly) has died at the age of 79 on October 12, 2024. Arriving in New York City from his family farm in Texas in 1964 to study painting at the Art Student's League, Ray Kelly lived an art-filled and adventurous life ever since. He was Mark Rothko's painting assistant for three years while the Rothko Chapel in Houston was being built. He apprenticed with Herbert Ferber, taught fresco, at Skowhegan School and founded the Rivington School on New York's Lower East Side in the 80's. His leadership included a landmark legal case in which he obtained a lot for the Rivington School Sculpture Garden from the City of New York. He's shown work worldwide including P.S.1, Socrates Sculpture Park, and the Cooper Hewitt Museum. He leaves behind his wife, Anja, his sister Evelyn Kelly, his brother Don and wife Janis Kelly, his sister Elaine and husband Hal, his niece Stacy L. Kelly and her son Kaegan Desmond Lagerquist and many other nieces and nephews. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and his brother Larry Desmond Kelly.