Whitestone Gallery Karuizawa is pleased to present "LOOP," the first solo exhibition by American artist Jeff Ross at Whitestone.

I'm more of a creator than an artist.
Everything around me is a source of inspiration: small details, bits and pieces, sounds and textures that trigger, react and give rise to ideas and results.
My work comes from where I am and what I have at hand, it's constantly changing and I'm always working with different types of formats and styles simultaneously.
Travelling the world and exploring new places along little paths is what keeps me going, staying in one place and making one style of art is not an option.

I am a self-taught artist, I have learned everything I have decided to learn.
All of my experiences - my travels, my visits to museums, my poring over art books, the experimentation, the trial and error, and my reckless behaviour - can be seen through me in my work.
My philosophy is "make what you love". You have to enjoy looking at the work and enjoying the process of making it. I get influences from all over the place and there is an endless supply of things that inspire me.

I've been making screen prints for nearly 40 years and my goal has always been perfect, clean lines with no misalignment and high resolution.
But now I am going back to my roots: I use torn, worn, unfinished images and print them without any adjustment techniques, observing the unique moment that occurs every time I apply a silkscreen print evenly to the canvas or paper with a spatula.
The product of chance becomes the product of intent.

In 1986 I decided to print t-shirts for a friend's band.
They looked for screen printing reference books, built their own screens and printing press, and went on tour wearing t-shirts printed on the press.

In late 1989 I moved to Seattle, Washington and started a printing company. I began my 20 year career in Seattle designing posters and t-shirts for Nirvana and Mudhoney for the Sub Pop record label. The music industry later led me to the snowboarding industry, working for K2, Ride, Snowboard Connection, and many other snowboardwear companies. After 20 years in Seattle printing for over 500 bands and companies, I decided it was time to make art for myself.

I have been traveling around the world for the past 12 years, seven of which were spent in Bangkok.
I spent the last year and a few months in Serbia.

I then returned to the US due to the impact of COVID-19, and am now starting the next chapter of my life in Japan.

This solo exhibition marks a new start for me.
-Jeff Ross

We are looking forward to your visit.

• Planning and Organizing

  White Stone Karuizawa

• 

• 

• 

•