Max Kelly isn’t just an fan of vintage design and style—it’s
embedded in his DNA. As a third-generation family artist, Max
carries on the creative tradition inspired by his grandfather,
a well-known illustrator in the early 20th century; and his
father, a commercial photographer during the booming post-war
period.
After attending the School of Visual Arts in New York and
Northern Illinois University in DeKalb Illinois, Max spent
a year studying at the University of Madrid. There, he
was captivated by the quality of the graphical style used by
Spanish merchants to advertise and identify their businesses. “It
seems like even the littlest bakery in Spain would have graphics
you’d only get in this country by hiring an agency. Design
was that important to them,” Max says. Inspired by this
rich visual atmosphere, Max took a job with a Spanish sign
artisan, crafting intricate acid-etched glass signs.
