Today we’d like to introduce you to Jean-Pierre Verdijo.
“I am here to witness, serve and document the abundant manifestation of life. I am inspired to share my creations with the world as an expression of presence and an offering of love.”
Jean-Pierre Verdijo was born in New York City, from French and Puerto Rican parents. The streets, subways, playgrounds, and galleries of New York City provided early creative stimulation for a vivacious young artist. At ten years old, Jean-Pierre’s family fell upon hard times and traveled homelessly within the cities of Toronto, Chicago, and Miami. During this time, he continued to express his creativity and process his circumstance through drawing and dance. At fourteen years old, he and his mother started a new life in sunny California where he began to skateboard and discover other young artists who opened his eyes to an expansive view of life.
Jean-Pierre attended community college for eight years and took every art psychology and child studies class that was offered. While on summer break, he traveled to Nepal where he sold his first piece of art. This was a revolutionary moment, which launched his professional career. In 2005, upon arriving in Austin, he became enamored with the art scene, thriving health, and green living community within the city. He quickly chose to start his family and make a life here. Since then he has participated in multiple EAST Austin Studio Tours, shown at numerous cafes and events, including the Maranda Pleasant Gallery, and was featured in Origin Magazine as well.
It was at the 2013 East Austin Studio Tour that he was discovered by Annie Wells of the Little Pink Monster Gallery (LPM), and in 2014 had his first solo exhibit with them and then a second in 2015 when LPM moved to Canopy. Jean Pierre’s commitment to art manifest as a hunger and striving to continually uncover the image or process that will forever shift humanity towards units. Currently, he is investigating color.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My complete focus is on Handmade original pieces of art. People often ask if I have prints, which the response is always, no. Since work is often large scale, but not always, I often I will work with a client, setting up a payment plan so they can afford an original. The work is often a mixed media situation, of paper, photos, paint and found or collected objects on wood panels that I build myself. Some of my pieces are multi-paneled, some are round, others are backlit. I like to play with the contrast between textures and finishes. Contrast, in general, is a method and a subject.
I’m driven by love of life, of dignity, of transcendence. The studio becomes a magic place of toil and surrender when inhabited by willingness to lose oneself in the process while staying present to the materials and subject. It’s what I wanted to do and be since I was Seven years old. I’m living a dream come true, I didn’t realize that it would be quite the way it is…
It is my goal to have a lasting impact on our world, not just in the field of art, but in the art of being one’s greatest self. By living and relating authentically, as a creator, I free myself to be more present with others, especially those who also want to effect change in the world. That willingness is at the core of my being and funnels into my work.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
Before connecting with other artists, I recommend steeping in the solitude until one has utter gratitude for the hermetic experience of studio life. If it’s in your heart to curate others work, I couldn’t recommend it enough. Collaborations are a great way to get into a different studio or invite new energy to yours.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My brand ARTOFJEANPIERRE has Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, pages and a YouTube channel. By the grace of an angel (Ana Merie Touza), my website has been recently updated with a store and gallery of available pieces.
Currently, I am exhibiting photography at the Soma Vida Gallery in Austin. Later on November 10–11 & 17– 18, as a participant of the 2018 East Austin Studio Tour. I will be exhibiting work at The Soma Vida Gallery, in a group exhibit titled, East of Color, with 5 other artists of color in the Austin Creative Alliance (ACA) gallery, and one cameo piece at the Little Pink Monster Gallery for good measure.
After all that, I will be going to the Art Bash Thrown by Art Alliance Austin (AAA) where I’m rumored to have a hand in a collaboration, with a sculptor. That is just a rumor at this point though…
Contact Info:
- Website: artofjeanpierre.com
- Phone: 512-965-4635
- Email: artofjeanpierre
- Instagram: artofjeanpierre
- Facebook: artofjeanpierre
- Twitter: artofjeanpierre
- Other: artofjeanpierre
Image Credit:
oleksyphotos
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
