The High School Pastel Collection
This exclusive private offering marks the first time Eric Kelly III’s early high school pastel drawings are being made available for acquisition. These rare works are not only deeply personal but also historically significant—marking the origin of a journey that would shape a revolutionary voice in American art.
Created between the ages of 14 and 17, these drawings are the earliest examples of Kelly’s now-iconic use of bold black lines, color harmonies, and emotional symbolism.
These pieces represent the embryonic stage of a young visionary beginning to experiment with emotion, motion, and memory through the medium of pastel. Infused with the raw intensity of adolescence and the awakening of his synesthetic gift, these works capture the moment when Eric first realized he could translate sound into form, rhythm into movement, and melody into meaning. Each drawing is a portal—a glimpse into the emotional terrain that would later define his abstract expressionist and multimedia legacy.
This body of work stands as an important chapter in the greater art canon, echoing the importance of early works from Basquiat, Bearden, and de Kooning. More than collector’s items, these drawings are a sacred document of the beginning. A moment before abstraction, before fame, before museums—when art was still a secret language spoken between soul and paper.
This collection is offered in a private sale for collectors who understand the importance of legacy, rarity, and the energy embedded in the first brushstrokes of a master. These are not just drawings. They are relics. They are prophecy.
1965–1971 – Figuration and Early Identity
As a young prodigy, Eric’s early work revolved around figurative drawing and portraiture, often sketching family, community members, and influential Black leaders.
Even at this stage, his drawings were more than likenesses—they conveyed emotion and spirit. Listening to jazz and gospel as a child, Eric saw bursts of color with each note, which translated into his unique shading and line work.
His early work laid the foundation for what would become a vibrant, expressive style.
These never-before-released high school pastel drawings from Eric Kelly III are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for serious collectors to own the foundation of a legendary career. As the very first visual artifacts of a creative genius in formation, these pieces provide unmatched insight into the emergence of one of America’s most transformative visual storytellers. Their rarity, intimacy, and historical weight make them a vital addition to any museum-grade or private art collection.
Each work captures the moment before evolution—when raw talent met soul, sound, and sensation.
Owning one of these pieces is not just acquiring artwork; it is securing a part of art history. These drawings are the seeds of a lifetime of innovation, cultural commentary, and emotional power.
To collect them is to hold the genesis of a legacy that continues to reshape how the world sees Eric Kelly III's Art Today!
