Jay Exon at the Joseph Gierek Fine Art Gallery in Tulsa, OK
Having started his career as a full-time artist in 2015, Jay Exon seems to have found his sweet spot many artists struggle with- focusing on his art full time while someone else markets and sells it. “I think as an artist; you’re painting for you. You’re not painting for what sells because you can get into a trap of not evolving and just producing the same painting over and over again,” explains Jay.
Jay’s art is exclusively represented at the Joseph Gierek Fine Art Gallery in the Meadow Gold District on
historic Route 66, which is an excellent opportunity for Jay to sell his work and an honor for him to be in such a revered gallery. “Just having my art on the walls next to other art that blows me away is such an honor.” recounts Jay.
Many artists know how difficult it is to be creative and manage their business; that is why Jay feels being represented by a gallery of this caliber allows him to focus on his painting full time and not worry about marketing and sales.
For 39 years, Joseph Gierek Fine Art Gallery has been a destination gallery frequented by repeat customers and visitors traveling to Tulsa, admiring the extensive collection of paintings, sculptures, glass, collage, and mixed media works. “The gallery is well established, and Joseph has a great reputation for carrying the best names from the East Coast to the West Coast as well as many local Oklahoma artists.”
Growing up in Tulsa, Jay started painting for theatrical stage sets at the American Theater Company. Having learned technical skills in art design, woodworking, and color theory prepared him perfectly for his career as the full-time abstract painter that he is today. Tulsa has innumerable opportunities for artists to get their names out there, and for Jay, having his art on the walls at the Designer Showcase and Parade of Homes is where people started to respond to his work. Jay had a couple purchase seven paintings for their home from these showcases, and when it comes to buying multiple paintings from one artist, he says, “it’s about relationships and finding people who like your work. Buyers need to find something they want to look at every day.”
Purchasing His Art
Jay advises that when you purchase just one painting from an artist, you become a collector and that “collectors must understand that an artist is going to evolve and change so that they won’t get stuck in one style. It’s neat to be involved in the artists’ journey as they create.”
Jay is a fan of bold colors – pink being his favorite. When standing in front of his large pieces, you are immediately drawn to the vibrancy and power of his chosen colors. His colors reflect his mood and inform the naming of the work, which he does with his sister. “The names all have an inside story. I try to keep them interesting and comical.”
Another benefit for an artist to be exclusive to a gallery is the anticipation from new and long-time collectors. Collectors – and friends – are always looking for what’s coming next from the artist. Asking, what is the next piece or series you will paint? Being represented at one gallery gives people a consistent place to revisit and follow the artist’s evolution. And for the artist, the gallery is a container for that evolution because sometimes a painting happens in an afternoon, and sometimes it takes a year. For Jay, being represented at the Joseph Gierek Fine Art Gallery is an opportunity to feel supported so he can focus on his art. “I think for many artists, you can have doubts, but when you have that cheerleader who reinforces that you’re doing good work, it is so meaningful. It’s great if it sells, but just receiving that feedback about your art and value is just as important.”
Ready to Plan A Visit?
Find the Joseph Gierek Fine Art Gallery at 1342 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK 74120 or visit their website.
Local Hotels & Restaurants
The Joseph Gierek Fine Art Gallery is in the heart of the Meadow Gold District on the historic
Route 66. Plenty of sites to see when walking up and down the historic Mother Road:
Dining:
Wildflower Café
1306 E. 11th St., Tulsa, OK 74120
Ike’s Chili (Tulsa’s oldest restaurant, Est. 1908)
1503 E. 11th St., Tulsa, OK 74115
The Meat and Cheese Show
Shopping:
Josey Records
1020 S. Rockford Ave., Tulsa, OK 74120
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios
Lodging:
The Campbell Hotel
2636 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK 74104
Jay Exon’s Paintings
BAGGAGE CLAIM
These vibrant colors of yellow, purple and green reminded Jay of the lines and movement the of runway and conveyer belts at the airport...
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BASTILLE DAY
Bastille Day was named by Jay’s nephew. Looking at the blue and blood red colors, he saw the French flag and named it after the...
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NOODLIN'
The concept of noodling fascinated Jay. “The fact that there are people who go down to the river and stick their hand in the mouth of a...
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