Jason Brian Fox
The imaginative shapes and vivid colors that define Jason Brian Fox’s paintings are the result of a lifetime spent taking refuge in art. His work has been exhibited up and down the East Coast and attracted attention from collectors and aficionados around the world. If there is a unifying theme in his work, that theme is healing; using art to take shelter from the traumas of the modern world. Jason was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in December 1973. He spent most of his youth in Edison, NJ, where he showed a keen interest in the arts as a high school student. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Air Force.
He was deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm and was decorated for his service. However, he would face many of the challenges that many veterans have when returning home from war. Art would prove to be a pivotal part of Jason’s return to normalcy. He dabbled in several mediums before deciding to focus on watercolor and acrylic painting and before long, he began to develop the abstract style that he is known for today. Many of his paintings are named after the songs he listened to during their composition. And just like a great song, his paintings bring disparate elements together to create something unique, harmonious, and moving. Because of the unusual life he has led, Jason is a man with many stories to tell. His paintings express the subconscious part of those stories, the part that cannot be explained in words. Evocative and thought-provoking, these images represent an individual coming to terms with his own existence.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My artistic journey began during childhood in New Jersey, where my mother and uncle encouraged my interest in creative expression. Following my service in the United States Air Force, I pursued formal studies at the Art Students League of New York, studying abstraction under Peter Bonner and drawing under Costa Vavagiakis. My professional career began gaining momentum in 2019 with an exhibition at the SoHo Art Show in New York City. Since then, I've continued developing my artistic practice, exhibiting in galleries, art fairs, and museums while exploring the possibilities of contemporary abstraction.”
What inspires you?
“I'm inspired by the constant state of change that defines our existence. Nature, particularly the movement and fluidity of water, has profoundly influenced how I interpret the world around me. I'm fascinated by the relationship between chaos and order, and how seemingly unpredictable forces can produce unexpected beauty. Artistically, I draw inspiration from Abstract Expressionism and Cloisonnism, embracing spontaneity, emotion, and the interplay of color and form. Ultimately, my inspiration comes from observing life's impermanence and finding ways to translate those experiences into visual expression.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“My work explores themes of impermanence, transformation, and the relationship between chaos and harmony. Through my artistic philosophy of Motionism, I seek to capture the perpetual movement and evolution of existence. There is an underlying message that nothing in life is truly static; everything is continuously becoming something else. Rather than imposing a specific interpretation, I invite viewers to discover their own emotional connections within the work. I believe abstraction provides a universal visual language through which personal experiences and shared human emotions can intersect.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would describe my work as contemporary abstraction that balances spontaneity with deliberate composition. Working across watercolor, acrylic, pastel, and drawing, I explore the relationships between color, movement, texture, and form. My approach combines elements of Abstract Expressionism and Cloisonnism, often allowing the materials themselves to influence the creative process. I strive to create compositions that feel alive, inviting viewers to explore beyond the surface and discover something personal within the visual experience.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I'm particularly influenced by Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Helen Frankenthaler, whose approaches to spontaneity, gesture, and color helped redefine artistic expression. I'm also drawn to Émile Bernard and the Cloisonnist movement, particularly its use of bold contours and distinct fields of color. While these artists represent different approaches to painting, I find inspiration in the tension between freedom and structure. Their work has encouraged me to develop my own visual language rather than adhere to any single artistic tradition.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process is largely intuitive and experimental. I rarely begin with a predetermined composition, preferring to allow the materials to guide the direction of the work. Whether I'm manipulating watercolor, layering pastels, or working with acrylics, I embrace the unexpected interactions between color, texture, and form. There's an ongoing dialogue between intention and chance, where each decision influences the next. I find that some of the most compelling results emerge when I relinquish control and allow the composition to evolve organically.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe an artist's role in society is to challenge perceptions, inspire dialogue, and offer new ways of understanding the human experience. Art has the unique ability to transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries, connecting people through shared emotions and experiences. As technology, particularly artificial intelligence, continues to reshape creative expression, I believe the artist's role will increasingly emphasize authenticity, individuality, and the human experience. Art should not simply reflect the world around us but encourage us to see it differently.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“An important exhibition I have coming up is called Celebrating Creativity as I will be part of a Group show at the Monmouth Museum in Lincroft, New Jersey. The exhibition opens on November 15, 2026 and runs through January. It features artists from around the region in mediums like painting, drawing, photography and sculpture.”
Website: www.jasonbrianfoxart.com
Instagram: @jasonbrianfox
Other links: www.facebook.com/Jasonbrianfoxart
