Mike Kelley, Thomas Kellein

Published in 1995 by Cantz Verlag, this volume serves as a comprehensive monograph dedicated to the work of American artist Mike Kelley. Edited in collaboration with Thomas Kellein, the book was released during a pivotal decade in Kelley’s career, capturing the thematic depth of his exploration into subculture, memory, and the aesthetic of the abject. It functions both as an art-historical record and as a curated presentation of his installations and performances that challenged traditional notions of high art through the lens of pop culture debris and psychological trauma.

The design of the monograph reflects the raw, often unsettling nature of Kelley’s broader body of work. By organizing his complex assemblages and dense, text-heavy conceptual pieces, Kellein sought to provide a structured entry point into a notoriously sprawling and non-linear artistic output. Upon its release, the book was received as an essential reference for understanding the post-minimalist and neo-conceptual movements, offering scholars and enthusiasts a definitive look at an artist whose influence helped define the intellectual landscape of late 20th-century American art.