Tony Kelly (born December 5, 1975) is an Irish fine art photographer, director, creative consultant and author. His work is characterized by vivid color, ironic glamour, and stylized compositions that often blur the line between satire and seduction. His images often feature subjects and themes of jetset culture, luxury and social commentary. Plastik magazine has described his aesthetic as “an acute penchant for opulence and over-indulgence,” noting that his imagery offers “the escapism and ok-boomer fantasies viewers never knew they needed”, and “captures unadulterated luxury and glamor.” He has been called “Ireland’s most internationally renowned fashion and celebrity photographer.”
A self-taught photographer, he briefly attended photography college but left after three months in favor of a more hands-on approach. As a teenager, he began working for a local newspaper, covering football games, accidents, and local crime scenes. At age 19, he launched his career at the Evening Herald, becoming the youngest news photographer hired by Independent Newspapers. Continuing on his journey in news reportage he covered international conflicts, including flying himself to Rwanda to cover the genocide when he was 20 years old, and was first deployed to Afghanistan in October 2001 shortly after the war began and returned again in December 2001.
In 1996, at age 20, Kelly’s photograph of Bono and Liam Gallagher kissing outside Dublin’s POD nightclub drew international attention and marked a turning point in his career, steering his focus toward portraiture, fashion, and celebrity culture. In 2002, he moved to Barcelona, where he interned with fashion photographer Jose Manuel Ferrater. Encouraged to blend his photojournalistic storytelling with fashion imagery, Kelly developed a distinctive style characterized by vibrant colors, irony, and theatrical compositions. Forbes. His dynamic, action-based perspective would become a hallmark of his work.
In 2011, Kelly relocated to Los Angeles. Over time, Kelly shifted focus from celebrity and fashion subjects to creating fine art images where "the image should be the star," emphasizing composition and narrative over fame. Marco Finazzi, former Art Director of Vanity Fair, has said, “When you need colour, irony and humor, he is the first name that comes to mind. Think big, think Tony Kelly!”
Kelly has photographed a wide range of high-profile subjects, including Bono, Demi Lovato, Duran Duran, Will Ferrell, Scott Eastwood, Jeremy Piven, Michael C. Hall, RuPaul, Justin Bieber, Emily Ratajkowski, Adam Levine, Kate Upton, Russell Brand, Bruno Mars and more.
His work has appeared in major international publications including GQ, British GQ, L’Officiel Hommes, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Playboy, Complex and Vanity Fair as well as cult favorite Plastik. His work has been described by GQ España as "irreverent and provocative”, and by Photo magazine as "spontaneous and hyper-energetic”. Photomagazine also said that "his flashy style has conquered the world of fashion".
His commercial portfolio includes campaigns for global brands such as OCEANCO, Kiton, Faena, Too Faced Cosmetics, Il Makiage, MAC Cosmetics, BMW, Louis Vuitton, Estée Lauder, SKYY Vodka, Philipp Plein, Kiton, Oceanco, Il Makiage, G/FORE, Snapchat, Skims, St. Regis and TURNER NETWORK.
Kelly cites his surroundings and community as ongoing sources of creative inspiration, from the neon sprawl of Sunset Boulevard to the snow-covered slopes of St. Moritz. He draws heavily from cinematography, the visual language of film, and what he calls “old advertising from the ’60s and ’70s.” He has said,“For me it’s always been about entertainment.”
Gallery Exhibitions
In December 2024, Kelly established his own gallery, TONY KELLY WORLD, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The gallery exclusively showcases his work, offering visitors an immersive experience into his artistic universe. Plans are underway to open additional locations worldwide. A permanent exhibition of Tony Kelly’s fine art photography is on display. The gallery presents an evolving selection of his work characterized by bold color, cinematic composition, and themes of contemporary luxury.
Publications
- Tony's Toys (2014): A limited-edition photobook sold exclusively in Marc Jacobs stores.
- Taken! Entertaining Nudes by Tony Kelly (2016): Published by teNeues, this collection showcases Kelly's playful and subversive approach to nude photography.
- NOWHERE (2020): A self-published work capturing the essence of Los Angeles during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- FAENA (2021): A collaborative project with Faena Hotel Miami Beach, this book reflects Kelly's interpretation of the hotel's artistic ambiance. Faena
- MIAMI (2024): Published by teNeues, this book presents a colorful and ironic portrayal of Miami's vibrant culture.
Awards and Recognition
- 2017: Clio Award for the print campaign advertising the U.S. television series Claws.
- 2019: Monaco Influencer Award in the Visual Arts category. Cosmopola, HelloMonaco
- 2026 Kelly’s commissioned work for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts won in the Images category at the 18th Annual Shorty Awards and also received an Audience Honor