Marcus Antonius Jansen
B. 1968, New York, NY
Artists Statement
Although I was always intrigued by the classic traditional landscapes painted by many famous painters, I found myself rather drawn to this century's less classic but perhaps more expressive urban landscape. Here I found the most fascinating compositions and an atmosphere that reflected various cultures as well as history. I felt the need to focus on the people and the places that are part of the here and now. My works are the result of my inner thoughts, dreams and observations as I respond to the things around me.
Expressions of the decline of cities in the midst of increased urbanization, poverty, and human isolation in the 21st century become central to my work as well as what we consider art or not. Because this way of painting uses not only my eye buy my soul and spirit as its source, it allows me to discover more and more of myself. This often means letting go.
Hopefully, when a viewer looks at my work, what he or she feels and sees, while familiar, also leads to the discovery of something new. I believe that my exploration of the inner core, and foundation of where we are and how we live, with all its beauty and contradictions, enables each viewer to probe more deeply Into self. Thus, I refer to my work as "lifescapes" rather than landscapes.
Since my interest as a painter is primarily in the process of what happens between the eye and the object when I paint, my brush strokes are immediate and different forms of mixed media are used in my final approach.
Various art forms have influenced my style of painting: realism, surrealism. impressionism, 1900 German expressionism as well as the New York movement of Abstract Expressionism, and of course, Graffiti art of the late 20th century. To these I add graphics, sketches, and collage symbolic messages. The result is a canvas that seeks to communicate with viewers and create an emotional puzzle - a mystery for them to unravel. Because of the way I apply paint, each painting then takes on its own life and appears to be more chaotic in form than controlled. I work on refining the painting later without sketching or drawing as it is traditionally more common to do first. This allows me to question, experiment and investigate the layers of paint which are crucial to the final impact and narrative. The characters in my work are mostly depicted as anonymous or transparent, while vague buildings are in a constantly revolving process of destruction and construction.
EDUCATION
1995 Austin Pea State University, Fort Campbell,Leadership Academy.
1984-85 Gewerblische Schulen der Stadt Moenchengladbach, Berufsfachschule für Gestaltung/Design Germany.
1986-89 Gewerblische Schulen der Stadt Moenchengladbach, Berufsschule fuer Maler/Painting, Germany.
1990-97 US Armed Forces
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT
Moscow Museum of Modern Art (MMOMA), Moscow, Russia
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, Missouri
National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art, Taiwan
Smithsonian Anacostia Museum, Washington DC
Tuskeegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama
SELECTED SOLO SHOWS
2010 101 Exhibit< Miami
2009 Bill Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2009 Museum Works Galleries, Aspen
2009 Museum Works Galleries, Santa Fe
2009 HW Gallery, Naples
2008 Stolen Space Gallery, London
2008 Museum Work Gallery, Aspen
2008 HW Gallery, Naples
2008 Yeiser Art Center, Paducah
2007 Lawrence Asher Gallery, Los Angeles
2007 Damien B. Contemporary Art Center, Art Basel Miami
2007 GoGo Gallery, Miami, FL
2007 Gallery XIV, Boston, MA
2006 American Art Gallery, Paris France
2005 American Art Gallery, Paris
2005 Gallery One, Nashville, TN
2004 American Art Gallery, Paris
2003 Charles H. Wright Museum, Dearborn
2002 American Art Gallery, Deauville, France
2000 Kunsthandlung Schoenen, Aachen, Germany
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2010 101 Exhibit, Miami
2010 Kim Foster Gallery, New York,NY
2009 Bill Lowe Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2009 Stolen Space Gallery, London, UK
2009 Art Santa Fe International Fair, Santa Fe
2009 FIDM Museum, Los Angeles
2008 Los Angeles Art Show, Santa Monica
2008 Visual Art Center, New Jersey
2008 FGCU University, Fort Myers, FL
2007 Kuandu Museum of Fine Arts, Taiwan
2007 National Kaohsiung Normal University, Taiwan
2007 Angel Art Gallery, Taiwan
2007 Central Exhibition Hall Manege, St. Petersburg Russia
2007 Stolen Space Gallery, London, UK
2007 Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery, Atlanta
2007 Oi Futuro Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2007 Center of the Study for Political Graphics in L.A., Los Angeles
2006 National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art, Taiwan
2006 Tampa Museum of Art, Tampa, FL
2006 Lawrence Asher Gallery, Los Angeles, California
2006 Societe des Beaux Arts de Garches, Paris, France
2005 Museum for African Art, New York, NY
2005 Bob Rauschenberg Gallery, Fort Myers, FL
2004 American Art Gallery, Deauville, France
2003 American Art Gallery, Deauville, France
2002 Stricoff Fine Arts Ltd., New York, NY
2001 Stricoff Fine Arts Ltd., New York, NY
1999 Madison Square Garden, New York,NY
