Richard Kelly (1910–1977) was an American lighting designer, considered one of the pioneers of architectural lighting design. Kelly had already established his own New York-based lighting practice in 1935 before enrolling at the Yale School of Architecture. He graduated from there in 1944. Kelly characterized the difficulty in selling lighting consultancy, then a new discipline, when he reflected, "There weren't lighting consultants then. Nobody would pay for my ideas, but they would buy fixtures." By the 1950s, his work in lighting design led him to coin the terms 'focal glow', 'ambient luminescence' and 'play of brilliants' to describe particular effects in lighting design. His later career also saw him lecture at Yale, Princeton, and Harvard University. After his death, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America established the Richard Kelly Grant in his name to encourage creativity in lighting among young people. Notable projects Richard Kelly's most notable projects saw him collaborate with architects including Mies van der Rohe, Philip Johnson, Eero Saarinen, and Louis Kahn. Such lighting projects include: David H. Koch Theater (then the New York State Theater). Glass House. Kimbell Art Museum. Seagram Building. Flamengo Park. External links Biography from Archlighting.com MetropolisMag article on Richard Kelly's work Website of the Richard Kelly Grant The Structure of Light, a 2010 Book from Yale Press Richard Kelly: Defining a Modern Architecture of Light Richard Kelly papers (MS 1838). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library. References American lighting designers Lighting designers 1910 births 1977 deaths Yale School of Architecture alumni