Artist Bio

Jasmine May (b. 1997) is an interdisciplinary artist from Austin, TX. Her studio practice includes various mediums, mainly charcoal pencil on paper and oil paint on canvas, as well as printmaking and colored pencil. Through her work she explores themes of authenticity, the bittersweet human condition, and the enigmatic beauty of the natural world. She has been an avid creator from an early age, taking an interest in practicing art when she was just 5 years old. From 2013-2015, she earned awards for her work in competitions during high school, and collectors began purchasing her work in 2017. To establish her personal brand as an artist and stand out in a competitive market, she refers to her studio as May's Art Studio, effectively creating a branded experience for her collectors. She received her BFA in Studio Art from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021. She is currently working as a full-time artist at her home studio in the suburbs of Austin, where she keeps creating and selling her art to collectors through art markets, conventions, online platforms, and local galleries.  

Artist Statement

In my artistic exploration, I delve into the depths of existence, exploring the strangeness and incongruity that permeates our lives. Subverting realism with abstraction as a way to take something from, the looked at, to the experienced. This combination of realism and abstraction allows me to make work that’s more about the material, about the surface and the texture, and more about the gestural mark making and brushstrokes. I make work through the flow state, using intuition and stream of consciousness to transform my thoughts and feelings into matter. The paintings rise from the brushstrokes, and the drawings rise from the mark making. The meaning comes to me as I work; as I continue to decipher my inner most being, and how it all fits into the universe. In a world inundated with superficiality and conformity, I aim to inspire viewers to embrace their authentic selves, to celebrate their individuality, and to question the constructs that confine us. Life is a complex tapestry of joy and pain, love and loss, growth and decay - I seek to capture these intricate emotions and experiences to invite viewers to reflect on the transient, bittersweet nature of life. I’m interested in blurring the line between what is traditionally considered beautiful and pleasant, with what is extraordinary and strange, so viewers question their perception of reality. In a society that often seeks to simplify and categorize, I believe that embracing the strange complexity of existence can lead to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world we inhabit. It is through exploring these themes of authenticity, the bittersweet human condition, and the enigmatic beauty of the natural world, that I hope to ignite a sense of curiosity and contemplation in the hearts and minds of those who encounter my work.

Jasmine May

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