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Payton Kelly

Payton Kelly

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Payton Kelly is an artist and designer based in Kansas City. Like many, Payton came to KC to work for Hallmark Cards, spending a total of 11 years there, the last 6 as an illustrator in the then newly-launched Shoebox Greetings division. In 1989 he created the label for Boulevard Brewing Company’s very first beer, Pale Ale, and went on to design, illustrate, and direct virtually every Boulevard brand for the next 20+ years. During his long tenure with Boulevard Payton  developed the best-selling Unfiltered Wheat Beer and award-winning Tank 7 brands, along with more than 30 others. Boulevard grew from a small regional brewer to one of the most successful in the nation, and in 2014 became part of the Duvel Moortgat international family of artisanal breweries. In 2019 he launched Payton Kelly Creative, an independent design, illustration, and creative consulting agency. He lives and works in his Waldo home and studio, where he produces hand printed editions of woodcuts and linocuts. He is also guitarist and vocalist for local band The LagerRhythms.