Ken Kelly

Ken Kelly (1946–2022) was an American fantasy artist best known for his bold, dramatic paintings that brought heroic and mythic worlds to life. A nephew of famed illustrator Frank Frazetta, Kelly carved out his own legacy with striking cover art for heavy metal albums, pulp magazines, and fantasy novels. He created iconic album covers for bands like KISS (Destroyer, Love Gun), Manowar, and Rainbow, as well as vivid illustrations for Conan the Barbarian and The Destroyer book series. His work, marked by powerful figures, rich colors, and epic battle scenes, remains a defining part of fantasy and rock culture artwork.