About

About J.M. Elam

Bio:

Located in Louisville, Kentucky, I’ve been an artist for about twenty years and a writer for much less. I’ve always loved reading, creating stories, art, and discussing ideas.

Artist Statement: 

The mind interprets what it sees.

When the mind comes into contact with the unknown, it tries to relate it to the known. Similarly, when you see something abstracted or non-representational, your mind assimilates it into something representational. It wants everything to make sense. Consider clouds or inkblots. Your mind draws from your memories and experiences to reform an image into the familiar.

Ideas can change our perspectives.

Stories, parables, and metaphors of all kinds encourage the mind to dig into its storehouse. But you’ll only receive what you’re ready to receive. Our perspectives frame what we understand as well as what we see.

Our perspectives can change what we see.

Amazingly the interpretations grow as you do. Years later, a painting or a book means something entirely different. We are changed by what we see, read, and experience. But these things are also changed by how we see them.

My Mission: 

My hope is that you connect to my work, on a personal level. I want my work (whether that is in my art or my writing) to enrich your life.

Inspiration and learning can be found anywhere if we’re looking for it. I would like to encourage others as I grow myself. But if what you need is to feel better and my work can give you that, I’m satisfied. 

Never underestimate the value of feeling better. It can reveal the solutions that you were blind to, in your burnout. I hope to meet you where you are with my work. Along the way, I want to give you something that you need. 

Values:

• I seek to be honest and kind in all of my interactions.
• To be communicative and transparent with all of my clients.
• I desire growth and learning in all aspects of my life.
• To be teachable and correct errors as soon as possible.

Resume:

Honors and awards

2012 Distinction, Bachelor Fine Art, Indiana University

2009 Preston Arts Center Award, IUS Juried Student Art Show, New Albany, In

Solo exhibitions and installations

2020

Black Rabbit, St Mathews, Louisville, Ky

Equus and Jack’s, St Matthews, Louisville, Ky

The Bard’s Town, Bardstown Rd, Louisville, Ky

2018

The Coffee Zone, Herr Lane, Louisville, Ky

2014

The Bard’s Town, Bardstown Rd, Louisville, Ky

Quill’s Coffee, Bardstown Rd, Louisville, Ky  

Day’s Espresso and Coffee Bar, Bardstown Rd, Louisville, Ky  

2013

The Bard’s Town, Bardstown Rd, Louisville, Ky

2011

Starbucks, Brownsboro Rd, Louisville, Ky

Exhibitions

2012

Chris& Daniel& Jessica& Philip, BFA senior show, Ronald Barr Gallery, New Albany, In

2011

Clean Fossils: Organic Conversations of Fragility and Undecided Cathartic Sentiment with Awareness of Hierarchal Spatial Interconnectivity, BFA senior show, New Albany, In

The Bristol, Louisville, Ky

2010

The Bristol, Louisville, Ky

El Día de Los Muertos, Ronald Barr Gallery, New Albany, In

2009

Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Ronald Barr Gallery, New Albany, In

2008

Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Ronald Barr Gallery, New Albany, In

2007

Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Ronald Barr Gallery, New Albany, In 

Services:

I’m a one stop shop for artwork, illustrations, and writing content. Please, feel free to browse my services and check back for updates!

Art Services

• Original artwork
• Art prints 
• Original custom work by commission
• Artwork displays for local businesses
• Illustrated images for books, album covers, and other media
• Tattoo Designs 

Writing services

• Editing
• Content Writing
• Copywriting

FREE content

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