Jake’s work will hang in the gallery for the month of August.

Jacob Jerome Kenobi (Just Jake)

“Spring Break Jake”(b. 1989), uses the inevitability of death as motivation to explore the inner oceans of mental health. By creating darkly tropical work that focuses on vulnerability, he illuminates the unseen parts of ourselves while encouraging an acceptance of both the good & the bad, the light & the dark.

From the adherence of found materials to the sculptural effect of thickened acrylic paint, his painting’s themes are reflected in his unique illustrative technique on top of textured layers of gestural abstraction; a physical representation of our often tumultuous minds.

Through the repeated symbolism of death on holiday, Jake’s art ultimately recognizes that while no one gets out of this life alive, we can all find paradise along the way.

Jake is a self-taught painter & mixed media artist born & raised in Minneapolis, MN, currently based in Bend, OR. His work has been shown throughout the US West Coast, including solo shows in Bend, Portland, & Encinitas, group shows in Bend, San Francisco, & Los Angeles, and juried art fairs in Seattle, San Francisco, Reno, & LA.

He was selected as one of the first Artists-in-Residence with Scalehouse Arts in Bend and has participated in speaking engagements such as an exhibition artist talk with his actual therapist, a panel discussion on the impact of art on health & well-being at the Reno Tahoe International Art Show, and leading a teen art workshop in collaboration with the High Desert Museum. Jake’s work has also been featured in print publications such as Vanity Fair UK, British GQ, House & Garden, Create! Magazine, and more.”