JAY JOHANSEN:  NEW WORK
JAN 7 - 17, 2022
Artist Reception: Fri, Jan 7, 2022, 4-7 pm

Born in 1946 and raised by his artist father in Oakland California, Jay began his journey into the Art World. His father Melvin was a celebrated Artist, but despite accolades, struggled to make ends meet, which had a lasting impression on Jay. His father would work tirelessly and Jay would join him in the studio creating his own work progressing at an astonishing rate. When Jay was in the 8th grade, his skills were well honed, his father asked him; “Do you want to be an artist when you get older?” Jay thought about it, seeing the hard times his father had, even though he possessed the passion said; “No I want to study and pursue an education.”

Graduating Berkeley at 20 years old and receiving an MBA from San Francisco State, Jay served as an officer in the US Army. With his exceptional education, it kept him state side during the Vietnam War, which few of his fellow soldiers were able to do. After his service to our country, Jay landed a position with an insurance firm to where he rose in the ranks rapidly and soon opened his own agency at the age of 26. Within 6 years, Jay grew such a successful enterprise, that it allowed him to pursue the passion he had as a child, Fine Art.

After establishing an international collector base with his realist paintings, Jay reflected on his childhood growing up in Oakland and Berkeley and the artwork that was painted on buildings. Jay Johansen's “Urban Art” series was born. Jay combines monochromatic faces of women with vivid colors that seem to bring life to the canvas.  Using broad strokes as opposed to his previous style gave Jay a freedom that he never felt as a professional artist and has given him the energy to create when he was a child in his father’s studio.