The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch
EventsLifestyleThe Latest

Exclusive: Tony Kelly Launches “Pills, Pools, and Planes” Exhibit in West Hollywood

by Jasmine Lamb July 9, 2018
by Jasmine Lamb July 9, 2018 0 comments
2K

On Friday, June 29th, Tony Kelly launched “Pills, Pools, and Planes,” a curated series of artwork on display at the Mondrian Hotel’s ‘Magic Box’ Exhibit in West Hollywood.

Although highly polished, Kelly’s work is known for being playfully subversive—thematically weaving in and out of the glossy veneers of L.A., while confronting stereotypes, taboos and role reversals. Elsewhere in Tony’s career, he remains highly-regarded by iconic brands and advertisers, from MAC Cosmetics and BMW, to Louis Vuitton and Philipp Plein. In 2017, his ad campaign for TNT’s Claws won him a coveted Clio award. He currently resides in Los Angeles.

Often referred to as a modern-day Helmut Newton, Kelly’s quirky spin on daily life, and the cultural idiosyncrasies that surround his career, have become a major part of his distinctive and signature style.

We had the chance to speak with Tony on the night of his launch on what inspires him most about his work, the people and streets of Los Angeles, and how he connects the dots between his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, to the blue skies of L.A.

The Knockturnal: What are some of your favorite nooks and crannies to shoot in L.A?

Tony Kelly: For me, it’s not about the nooks and crannies. Hollywood is like a zoo, and it depends what animal you want to see on a particular day. I love the palm trees, I love the blue skies, and this city gives me the kind of the ingredients to cook up the perfect picture. It’s the people that roam the streets that inspire me.

The Knockturnal: What inspires you most about this city?

Tony Kelly: It’s like a theatre. Cinema inspires me to a certain point, but real life inspires me. This place here is the perfect balance between fantasy and reality. What you see surpasses the greatest movie I’ve ever seen.

The Knockturnal: What qualities do you look for in the people you choose to depict through your work?

Tony Kelly: They’ve got to bring a story. If my pictures look like a photograph, I haven’t done my job. These are like scenes; so the people I meet, they’re actors, and they can be from all different backgrounds. I just want them to have reference to life, so that when I tell them to play a certain role, they have something they can channel.

The Knockturnal: Where are you originally from?

Tony Kelly: Dublin, Ireland.

The Knockturnal: How does your hometown inspire your work?

Tony Kelly: The inspiration from my hometown is a constant in everything I do. Not necessarily in aesthetic, but in Ireland, we tend to see the funnier side of life and the irony—we’re lighthearted. We’re about seeing the humor in most situations, and that humor is absolutely the most consistent element in my work. I’m Irish to the core. I view everything from that perspective, and that’s what gives me an edge.

The Knockturnal: How did you end up here?

Tony Kelly: I came here to do a job. My first night in L.A., I spent in the Mondrian, and it was the night Michael Jackson died. The next morning, I woke up and it just all made sense, and I never went back. I bought a car after being here for a week […] It’s like a relationship. When it’s right, you don’t really have to think that much, and that’s how it was for me.

Tony Kelly’s “Pills, Pools, and Planes” artwork will be on display at the Mondrian Hotel’s ‘Magic Box’ Exhibit in Los Angeles now through July 22nd.

ARTFineArtHollywoodLAEventsTonyKellyWestHollywood
0 comments 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Jasmine Lamb

previous post
Chashama Goes Bigger and Bolder for Its Annual Gala and Art Party
next post
Palm Springs: A View From The Top

Related Posts

Magical MAD Ball Honors Jonathan Adler

October 31, 2025

Janelle Monáe and BACARDÍ Rum Haunt Santa Monica...

October 31, 2025

Bun B on 20 Years of Trill, Working...

October 31, 2025

Inside Leesa Rowland and Larry Wohl’s Midnight at...

October 31, 2025

Raising Cane’s Big Halloween Treat in Times Square

October 31, 2025

Meet GOOD JUJU, the label that could redefine...

October 31, 2025

Mango Cart Mas is Stronger Than Yesterday

October 31, 2025

Penfolds Brings a Taste of Australia to the...

October 31, 2025

Port Sa’id: Restaurant Review

October 30, 2025

From House Made Pasta to Tiramisu Espresso Martinis:...

October 30, 2025

Digital Cover No. 19

The Knockturnal Merch

Follow Us On The Gram

theknockturnal

Lifestyle. Music. Entertainment.
Info@theknockturnal.com
New Cover Out Now ⬇️

We spoke with @truewhitaker last night at the prem We spoke with @truewhitaker last night at the premiere of @hbomax’s I Love LA!
We spoke with @holtlauren last night at the premie We spoke with @holtlauren last night at the premiere of @hbomax’s I Love LA!
We attended @hellosunshine’s 3rd annual Shine Aw We attended @hellosunshine’s 3rd annual Shine Away event, held at @universalstudioslot in Los Angeles! 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/hello-sunshines-third-annual-shine-away/

✍️: Katherine Wright

-
#HelloSunshine #Universal #LosAngeles
We spoke with @treaclychild last night at the prem We spoke with @treaclychild last night at the premiere of her brand-new show, I Love LA!
Step inside the chaotic world of The Chair Company Step inside the chaotic world of The Chair Company, where office life meets absurd comedy. 🪑 
Stream it now on @HBO. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/la-premiere-hbos-the-chair-company/

✍️: Katherine Wright
-
#TheChairCompany #HBO #HBOOriginal #HBOShow #BingeWorthy #MustWatch #StreamingNow
@justinbieber led @skylrk to a standout win at The @justinbieber led @skylrk to a standout win at The Leag, one of LA’s most talked-about underground sports events. With celebrities, athletes, and creators filling the sidelines, the night captured the energy of competition and culture colliding under the lights. 🏀

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/justin-bieber-leads-skylrk-to-victory-at-las-underground-sports-phenomenon-the-league/

✍️: Parris Rose

-
#JustinBieber #SKYLRK #TheLeag #LosAngeles #SportsCulture #Basketball #UndergroundSports
@nmixx_official spoke with The Knockturnal about t @nmixx_official spoke with The Knockturnal about their journey as six members, a long, inspiring adventure that’s led them to a major milestone: their first-ever full-length album, Blue Valentine. 💙

The project dives deep into the complexity of human emotions, wrapped in NMIXX’s signature MIXX-pop sound. 🎶

“The story of NMIXX is still unfolding.” 

Full Article 🔗 https://theknockturnal.com/nmixx-blue-valentine/

By @EmmaSalehi 

#NMIXX #BlueValentine #NMIXXBlueValentine #MIXXPOP #NMIXXComeback #KpopInterview #TheKnockturnal #Kpop #KpopNews #KpopGirlGroup #NMIXX_BlueValentine #HAEWON #LILY #BAE #JIWOO #KYUJIN #SULLYOON #엔믹스
Want to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Want to immerse yourself in the wonderful world of @beetlejuicebway? Now you can! From now until Halloween, @tempotimessquare hosting an unforgettable Beetlejuice Suite experience where every corner is bursting with spooky charm, strange surprises, and a whole lot of Netherworld flair. 💀✨ 

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a little strange and unusual, this is your chance to step into the world of the ghost with the most. 👻 #BeetlejuiceBroadway #TempoTimesSquare #BeetlejuiceSuite
#ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when y #ParkChanWook new film might make you laugh when you least expect it — and flinch when you do. 👀💥

Full review out now.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/park-chan-wooks-no-other-choice-is-dark-gripping-and-bitingly-funny/

✍️: Ishan Wankavala 

-
#NoOtherChoice #KoreanCinema #Cinephile #FilmReview #NewRelease #MustWatch
📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining 📸 WOODZ (@woodz_dnwm) — the artist redefining boundaries with each track, image, and evolution. Dive into our exclusive to uncover the artistry behind the name. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/woodz/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#Woodz #Kpop #ArtistSpotlight #Editorial
EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to elect EXCLUSIVE: STAYC take the Stay Tuned tour to electrifying new heights, bringing “I WANT IT” to life with unmatched energy, confidence, and flair. Every beat, every move, every note is a reminder that STAYC don’t just perform—they command the stage. 🌈💥

From their glowing visuals to powerhouse vocals, @stayc_highup deliver a night that’s equal parts spectacle and soul.

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/stayc/

✍️: Emma Salehi

-
#STAYC #StayTunedTour #IWANTIT #STAYCgirls #STAYChighup #Kpop #ConcertHighlights #ExclusiveFeature
Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new Park Chan-wook shares how The Ax inspired his new film, exploring its unique darkness. 🌟

#ParkChanWook #NoOtherChoice #TheAx #KoreanFilm #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook tea Big sci-fi dreams ahead 🔥🤖Park Chan-wook teases his probable upcoming project Genocidal Organ! 

#ParkChanWook #GenocidalOrgan #NYFF #NYFF26
Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in Dark humor and deep tragedy with @byunghun0712 in his latest film @nootherchoicefilm. 🖤🎬

#LeeByungHun #NoOtherChoice #KDrama #NYFF #NYFF26
Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun refl Two worlds, one screen 🌏🎥 Lee Byung-hun reflects on 20 years of film, from South Korea to Hollywood! 

#LeeByungHun #Hollywood #KoreanCinema #Film #NoOtherChoice #NYFF26 #NYFF
Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what Brighter days ahead 🌞 @cix.official share what it means to move forward together in their latest comeback. 

🔗: https://theknockturnal.com/cix/

✍️: Emma Salehi

Photo Credits: C9 Entertainment 
-
#CIX #GOChapter1 #GOTogether #TheKnockturnal #KpopInterview #KpopNews #CIXComeback #CIX2025 #KpopFeature #CIXFans
It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North Ameri It’s going down! @stayc_highup is in North America on their ‘Stay Tuned’ tour! 💖

Watch their energetic and fun filled show near you 👀🌟

#stayc #kpop #kpopconcert #iwantit #staycstaytuned #staytuned
Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷 We had the most a Who runs the world? Girls! 🩷

We had the most amazing day of inspiring panels, activations and networking at @femalefounderworld, with @eyebuydirect! 👓
Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joa Eskil Vogt reunites with longtime collaborator Joachim Trier for their sixth cinematic journey, co-writing Sentimental Value, a poignant exploration of family, memory, and reconciliation. 

-
#Screenwriting #Storytelling #WritingForFilm #FilmWriting #NYFF2025 #NewYorkFilmFestival #IndieFilm
At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to l At @thenyff , @renatereinsve brings Nora Borg to life in Sentimental Value, portraying a character whose journey through family complexities and personal discovery resonates deeply. 

-
#RenateReinsve #NYFF #SentimentalValue #NoraBorg #FilmFestival #Actress
Follow on Instagram

About The Site

We are a collective of creative tastemakers made up of fashion, music and entertainment industry insiders. It’s all about access. You want it. We have it.

Terms Of Use

Privacy Policy

Meet The Team

CONTACT US

For general inquiries and more info on The Knockturnal, please contact our staff at:
info@theknockturnal.com
fashion@theknockturnal.com
advertising@theknockturnal.com
editorial@theknockturnal.com
beauty@theknockturnal.com

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube

© Copyright - The Knockturnal | Developed by CI Design + Media

The Knockturnal
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Music
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Videos
  • Covers
  • Merch