Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

American, 1901-1982

Leon Kelly, born in 1901, studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia. Awarded a traveling scholarship from that institution in 1924, he studied in Paris, France at the Grande Chaumiere. Other teachers included Arthur B. Carles, Jean Auguste Adolphe, Earl Horter and Alexandre Portinoff. Essentially a Surrealist painter, Kelly did wide-ranging work that went from painterly to meticulous Surrealism, Cezanne-inspired watercolors, and Cubist painting. In the 1940s, Julian Levy, the Surrealist dealer, handled Kelly's work in New York City. Kelly also exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Art Annuals (1933-34, 1939-46, 1966); Corcoran Gallery Biennials, Washington, D.C. (three times from 1935-47); Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois; had a 1965 retrospective exhibition at the International Gallery, Baltimore, Maryland; Long Beach, New Jersey (1968); Richard Feigen Gallery, Chicago, Illinois (1968, 1970); Newark Museum, New Jersey (1969); and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Kelly's paintings are in the collections of three New York city museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Whitney Museum of American Art; and Museum of Modern Art; as well as Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut; Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia; Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California; Sara Roby Foundation Collection at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts; Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, Lincoln, Nebraska; Newark Museum, New Jersey; and the Tel Aviv Museum, Israel.

Artist: Leon Kelly

Leon KellyTwo Studies of Henriette (Head of the artist's wife & The Artist's wife writing, 1928-1930

$3,000

Two Studies of Henriette (Head of the artist's wife & The Artist's wife writing

By Leon Kelly

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Two Studies of Henriette (Left: Head of the artist's wife, Right: The Artist's wife writing a letter) Watercolor and graphite on paper, 1928-1930 Signed in pencil lower right (see photo) Image/sheet size: 9 3/8 x 11 inches Condition: Excellent Colors fresh and unfaded Provenance: Estate of the artist The Orange Chicken...

Category

1920s American Modern Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor

Leon KellyUntitled Female Nude with Male, Original Drawing by Surrealist Painter, 1960

$2,800

Untitled Female Nude with Male, Original Drawing by Surrealist Painter

By Leon Kelly

Located in Doylestown, PA

"Untitled Female Nude and Male" is a 22 x 17 inches, ink on paper drawing by American Surrealist painter Leon Kelly. The drawing is signed and dated in the lower right, it is matted ...

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1960s Surrealist Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper

Susan BrooksFashionable Faces, Surrealist Figurative Line Drawing, 1985

$460Sale Price|20% Off

H 14.25 in W 14.25 in D 1 in

Fashionable Faces, Surrealist Figurative Line Drawing

Located in Soquel, CA

Fun and playful figurative line drawing with three stylized female faces by SusanBrooks (American, b. 1951), 1985. Signed and dated in the lowe...

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1980s Surrealist Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Pencil

Paula CraioveanuBLUE SUN original art Paula Craioveanu Nude inspired by Matisse in Florida, 2022

$500

H 27.5 in W 19.5 in

BLUE SUN original art Paula Craioveanu Nude inspired by Matisse in Florida

By Paula Craioveanu

Located in Forest Hills, NY

“Blue Sun” Tempera pencil charcoal on blue paper Shipped rolled in a tube 25x3x3in, from Florida. This particular piece is in my studio in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Other pieces are...

Category

2010s Contemporary Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Tempera, Archival Paper

Paula CraioveanuSUMMER - sepia female nude by Paula Craioveanu original sepia drawing in Florida, 2018

$400Sale Price|20% Off

H 30 in W 22 in D 0.1 in

SUMMER - sepia female nude by Paula Craioveanu original sepia drawing in Florida

By Paula Craioveanu

Located in Forest Hills, NY

SUMMER - female nude - by Paula Craioveanu - original sepia drawing. Sepia ink drawing on watercolor paper inspired by Matisse's nudes. Original, unique, not...

Category

2010s Contemporary Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor, Ink

Paula CraioveanuBOYS WILL BE BOYS original art Paula Craioveanu Male Nude in Florida, 2025

$600

H 27.5 in W 19.5 in

BOYS WILL BE BOYS original art Paula Craioveanu Male Nude in Florida

By Paula Craioveanu

Located in Forest Hills, NY

“Boys will be Boys”, male nude, tempera pencil charcoal on blue paper, 27.5x19.5in, 70x50cm. Shipped rolled in a tube, well packed, from Florida. . Choose between express or standa...

Category

2010s Contemporary Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Tempera, Ink, Archival Paper

Paula CraioveanuRoom with a View - male nude blue Paula Craioveanu inspired Matisse in Florida, 2023

$380Sale Price|36% Off

H 27.5 in W 19.5 in D 0.2 in

Room with a View - male nude blue Paula Craioveanu inspired Matisse in Florida

By Paula Craioveanu

Located in Forest Hills, NY

Room with a View Male nude, made with ultramarine blue tempera, inspired by Matisse. 70x50cm / 27.5x19.5in Shipped rolled in a tube directly from Florida. This particular piece is i...

Category

2010s Contemporary Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Tempera, Archival Paper

Paula CraioveanuON THE BEACH original art Paula Craioveanu Female Nude Blue Sky in New York, 2022

$450Sale Price|25% Off

H 19.5 in W 27.5 in

ON THE BEACH original art Paula Craioveanu Female Nude Blue Sky in New York

By Paula Craioveanu

Located in Forest Hills, NY

“On the Beach”, tempera pencil charcoal on blue paper. Shipped rolled in a tube, in mat and frame for display purposes only . This particular drawing is in my studio in New York. Y...

Category

2010s Contemporary Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Tempera, Archival Paper

Paula CraioveanuVENUS IN CHAINS original art Paula Craioveanu Nude, 2025

$600

H 27.5 in W 19.5 in

VENUS IN CHAINS original art Paula Craioveanu Nude

By Paula Craioveanu

Located in Forest Hills, NY

“Venus in Chains”, tempera acrylic pencil on blue paper. Shipped rolled in a tube, well packed. This particular piece is in my studio in Bucharest, Romania, Europe. Other drawings ar...

Category

2010s Contemporary Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Tempera, Archival Paper

Paula CraioveanuSLICED VENUS - original large art by Paula Craioveanu 30x27in Neo Mythology, 2022

$480Sale Price|20% Off

H 39 in W 27.5 in

SLICED VENUS - original large art by Paula Craioveanu 30x27in Neo Mythology

By Paula Craioveanu

Located in Forest Hills, NY

Sliced Venus. Original art, signed 100x70cm / 30x27in, ink, graphite, tempera on paper. large size, shipped rolled in a tube Drawing has on the back 2 white wood sticks, and it's rea...

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2010s Contemporary Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Tempera, Pencil, Ink, Archival Paper

Max Arthur CohnNYC Cityscape American Scene Social Realism Mid-Century, c. 1930

$5,500

H 19 in W 25 in

NYC Cityscape American Scene Social Realism Mid-Century

By Max Arthur Cohn

Located in New York, NY

NYC Cityscape American Scene Social Realism Mid-Century Max Arthur Cohn (1903-1998) New York City Skyline 14 x 21 1/2 inches Watercolor on paper, c. 1...

Category

1930s American Modern Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Mabel E. JohnstonBroadway Costume Illustration by Designer Mabel E. Johnston, c. 1920s

$800

H 39 in W 21.25 in D 0.5 in

Broadway Costume Illustration by Designer Mabel E. Johnston

Located in New York, NY

Mabel E. Johnston Untitled, c. 1920s Watercolor and pencil on paper Sight: 18 x 12 1/2 in. Framed: 39 x 21 1/4 x 1/2 in. Signed lower right: Mabel E. Johnston The first tidbit I fou...

Category

1920s American Modern Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Pencil

Paula CraioveanuPleasure Principle Tempera Pencil Charcoal Drawing on Blue Paper, 2024

$480Sale Price|20% Off

H 27.5 in W 19.5 in

Pleasure Principle Tempera Pencil Charcoal Drawing on Blue Paper

By Paula Craioveanu

Located in Forest Hills, NY

“Pleasure Principle”, tempera pencil charcoal on blue paper Shipped rolled in a tube, well packed from Europe. Shipping to the US by DHL, no import fees for art. Shipping to Europe a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Tempera, Archival Paper

Robert LebsackFalling To Pieces - Abstract Figurative Black & White Mixed Media Romantic Art, 2025

$245

H 12 in W 9 in

Falling To Pieces - Abstract Figurative Black & White Mixed Media Romantic Art

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Robert Lebsack creates artworks using mixed media with ink, acrylic, and charcoal on archival copies of newspapers, textbooks, and sheet music. As a visionary artist, Lebsack weaves ...

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2010s Surrealist Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Ink, Mixed Media, Acrylic

Previously Available Items

Leon KellyGroup of Nudes, Cubist Style Figurative Drawing, Ink on Paper, Signed

Sold

H 7.75 in W 9.75 in D 0.5 in

Group of Nudes, Cubist Style Figurative Drawing, Ink on Paper, Signed

By Leon Kelly

Located in Doylestown, PA

"Group of Nudes" by Philadelphia born modernist and surrealist painter Leon Kelly, is a small unframed and matted group portrait drawing. The 3.25" x 5.25" ink on paper is signed "Le...

Category

Early 20th Century American Modern Leon Kelly Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Ink, Archival Paper

Leon Kelly figurative drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Leon Kelly figurative drawings and watercolors available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Leon Kelly in archival ink, archival paper, ink and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large Leon Kelly figurative drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 11 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Raphael Soyer, Harold Haydon, and Donald Stacy. Leon Kelly figurative drawings and watercolors prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,600 and tops out at $3,000, while the average work can sell for $2,300.