BIOGRAPHY
Jay Mason was born and raised in Osceola, Indiana and spent his formative years in an apartment above his father’s print shop. It was in this small town apartment that he found inspiration through his grandfather’s illustrations, as well as his aunt’s paintings and crafts. At 14, Jay learned to use the machinery within the Tom Mason Printing Company. This experience formed the foundation of his artistic endeavors, as he understood the creative possibilities of organizing visual information.
In 1999, Jay traveled to Europe where he studied art independently for over 9 months. From Paris, to London, to Prague, he saw as many of the masters’ works as he could. When he returned from Europe, he began creating art in his studio at the 619 Western Artist Lofts in Pioneer Square. Seattle embraced Jay’s work and the Pioneer Square art community took notice. Since then he has shown his work locally at several popular cafés and galleries and at The Midwest Museum of American Art.
Jay's work ranges from beautiful cityscapes, famous movie scenes, and portraits. His use of color is inventive and intense, and his paint strokes are bold; almost native in their expression of emotion. His eye is precise, and he focuses on his subjects in an calculated manner. As a result, he captures a sentiment in his subjects that translate who or what they are in a single canvas.
CV
Group Exhibitions
2020 Drawk Royale w/ Cheese https://ghostgalleryshop.com/drawnk-royale-wcheese-exhibit
2019 “Locally Sourced” Pacific Northwest Ballet - McCaw Hall
2019 Boards of July - Statix Gallery / Seattle, WA
2019 Vision Quest - Statix Gallery / Seattle, WA
2018 12 Month Later - A group show celebrating 1 year at Statix Gallery / Seattle, WA
2018 Big, Dumb, and Dreamy / Statix Gallery / Seattle, WA
2017 Seattle International Auto Show / Century Link Events Center / Seattle, WA
2016 Dia de los Muertos Celebration to Benefit Urban Artworks / Casco Antiguo / Seattle, WA
2016 Seattle International Auto Show / Pacific Place / Century Link Events Center / Seattle, WA
2016 TK Artist Lofts Open House / Seattle, WA
2015 TK Artist Lofts Open House / Seattle, WA
2014 TK Artist Lofts Open House / Seattle, WA
2013 Cityscapes / East Shore Gallery / Bellevue, WA
2013 TK Artist Lofts Open House / Seattle, WA
2012 TK Artist Lofts Open House / Seattle, WA
2011 Elkhart Jazz Festival / Midwest Museum of American Art / Elkhart, IN
2008 Su Job Benefit Art Auction –TK Artist Lofts / Seattle, WA
2006 The Beat Salon – Center on Contemporary Art / Seattle, WA
2005 Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts Open House / Seattle, WA
2005 Hideout / Seattle, WA
2004 Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts Open House / Seattle, WA
2004 Forgotten Works Challenge / Seattle, WA
2004 Bellevue Chalk Walk / Bellevue, WA
2003 Forgotten Works Challenge / Seattle, WA
2003 Benefit – Sit n’ Spin / Seattle, WA
2003 Bemis Building / Seattle, WA
2002 Forgotten Works Challenge / Seattle, WA
2002 Disordr – The Forgotten Works Gallery / Seattle, WA 2001 Forgotten Works Challenge / Seattle, WA
2001 Disordr – The Forgotten Works Gallery / Seattle, WA
1998 After Hours Gallery – Belltown Lofts / Seattle, WA
Solo Exhibitions
2024 Vermillion Art Gallery / “Land Marks” / Seattle, WA
2021 Jupiter Bar Belltown / 2nd Friday Art Walk
2016 Lesson of Unknown Fate / A story by Jay Mason and Marc Tweed in 14 panels / Caffe Vita / Seattle, WA
2014 1st Thursday Art Walk / TK Artist Lofts / Seattle, WA
2013 1st Thursday Art Walk / Pioneer Square Saloon / Seattle, WA
2012 Images of Jazz – Midwest Museum of American Art / Elkhart, IN
2011 All that Jazz – Electric Tea Garden / Seattle
2011 Who are the people in your Neighborhood – Caffe Vita / Seattle, WA
2011 Elkhart Jazz Festival – 523 Tap &Grill / Elkhart, IN
2009 JaY mAsOn art SHO! – Cugini Café / Seattle, WA
2007 Reflections – Corridor Gallery / Seattle, WA
2006 Formation Metropolis – All City Coffee / Seattle, WA
2006 The Art of Jazz – See Sound Lounge / Seattle, WA
2006 Black and White City – Auto Gallery of Seattle / Seattle, WA
2005 The Jay Mason Arts Commission – OK Hotel / Seattle, WA
2005 Selected Works – Red Bull Music Labs / Seattle, WA
2005 Retrospective – Nectar / Seattle, WA
2005 Nocturnes – See Sound Lounge / Seattle, WA
2005 Collection of Works – The Great Nebob / Seattle, WA
2004 Repose – Belltown Lofts Gallery / Seattle, WA
2004 Voice to Skull (installation) – Graylife -Capitol Hill Arts Center / Seattle, WA
2004 Areas – Nico Gallery / Seattle
2003 C.D.C. Experiment – Forgotten Works Gallery / Seattle, WA
2002 Portraits of People I Know – Artoleptic 619 Western / Seattle, WA
2002 Monster Club 23 – Bemis Building / Seattle, WA
Permanent Collections
Midwest Museum Of American Art, Elkhart, Indiana / Louis Armstrong
Seattle University permanent Collection / I.D. Writer’s Bizarre
Seattle Fire Department - Station 30 - Mount Baker / Metropole Fire
as well as other private collectors