 He lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota for several years, attending the Minneapolis College of Art & Design, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2002.He also began tattooing in Minneapolis, starting the Brian Kelly Army in early 2003.He later moved to Ireland, where he attended the post-graduate course at The Burren College of Art, in Co. Clare, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts awarded by the National University of Ireland - Galway in 2007.