Featured Arkansas Artist: Jerry Colburn

The Arkansas Studies Institute houses four art galleries, including a retail gallery, featuring the work of Arkansas artists and art related to the state. This post is part of a bi-weekly series featuring ASI gallery artists.

Jerry Colburn
Biography

Jerry Colburn was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1945. His early influences were comic book art, the moving imagery of early television, and the American abstract expressionists. He began his life as an artist by creating photo collages in 1988, quickly progressing to drawing, painting, and traditional photography. More recent influences include the work of Picasso, Matisse, Braque, Kandinsky, Pollock (especially early), Jessica Stockholder, Alberto Burri, Joan Mitchell, Stuart Davis, Miro, Lee Krasner, Man Ray, Leger, Antonio Tapies, Frida Kahlo, Basquiat, Warhol, Dali, and many outsider artists.

Almost entirely self taught, his first exhibit came in 1989 at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, followed soon thereafter by a large showing of his collages at the Arkansas Arts Center and an exhibition of his paintings and collages at the University of Central Arkansas. Many other exhibits followed (Gallery 26, Arkansas Repertory Theatre), and his work is included in many private collections.

He currently concentrates on photography and acrylic painting (mostly expressionist and abstract expressionist) on canvas and wood—also, similar ink paintings and paper collage (his original form of creative expression). After retiring from 30+ years as a state employee, he resides in the Argenta Historic District of North Little Rock.


Click here to see more work by Jerry Colburn.