Jason Shelby Schuler: Mending & Adapting
Jason Shelby Schuler's work transcends traditional boundaries between painting, sculpture, collage, and drawing, delving into the complex interplay between trauma, memory, and the mind-body connection in their capacity for healing and adaptation. Their artistic approach mirrors the body's healing processes, utilizing techniques such as dissociative doodles, stitch-like patterns, and a carefully chosen, albeit unsettling, color palette to convey the disorienting effects of trauma and the process of recovery. Inspired by childhood photographic material, Schuler illuminates the flashbacks and triggers embedded in memory, encouraging viewers to engage with their own experiences of trauma and resilience.
How did your creative journey begin?
Being creative has been a part of who I am for as long as I can remember. Like many people, it started when I was a kid with crayons and crafts. As I grew older, drawing, sketching, and doodling occupied my time when I was supposed to be focused on other things. However, there was a point in my life that really stands out in my mind. When I was 16, an art teacher really took notice of my abilities, and showed me a way of looking at art that cracked open a part of my mind I hadn't tapped into before. She also made me feel like being creative was important, and not just a waste of time. It was also during this time of my life I visited a contemporary art museum for the first time. I was amazed with everything I saw. I didn't understand much of it, but this thrilled me. It made me feel like there were so many possibilities, and that art holds space for something bigger. It was a promise that art and creativity were a place where wonder could exist.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I'm always looking for inspiration. Sometimes it comes from discovering an artist for the first time, and devouring their work. Sometimes it comes when I visit a museum and see a work of art in person for the first time and unravel how it was made. However, I would say a lot of inspiration comes from trying new things while creating. I always try to push myself so my work doesn't feel stale. I made a rule for myself years ago that if I ever have an idea that scares me, I have to do it. This method always makes my work better, and pushes me forward.
How has your work evolved over the last few years?
If there's one thing I could say about my work is it's always evolving. It's extremely important for me as an artist, and as a human being to push myself to grow and evolve. Over the years I've created sculpture, works in fiber, performance, painting, etc. Since graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I have focused on my painting practice. To me, my work over the years has felt like it has been zeroing in on something. I also feel this about myself as a person. As I tap into the courage to be more vulnerable, my art does as well. I would say my art has really become a way to make others feel safe and seen. We all feel alone sometimes as we walk this earth. Art is a way for us to connect with each other, and feel like we belong to something bigger.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
It always starts with coffee, or an espresso drink of some kind. I usually have music or something playing in the background. I then just really look at what I am making. I let my eyes and my brain warm up. I do this so that I'm not just going through the motions. I want every artistic decision I make to have thought and consideration behind it. Sometimes this part of the process takes a lot longer than I want it to. I need meaning. I need intent. These things are important to me in my life, and in what I create. Sometimes an idea will come to me late at night and I'll have to go to my studio. I can't wait until the next day or else it will drive me crazy. Making art is a conversation I have with materials and the creative part of my mind. Sometimes it's urgent, and sometimes the process is slow. The important thing is that it happens.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
Probably one thing that has impacted me the most is therapy. Before I could make sense of why and what I was making, I had to understand myself. I've learned that until we understand our trauma, we aren't really making choices free from fear. Our trauma is driving the car, and we are just a passenger in the backseat. After spending years in therapy, I started to understand things. I was then able to find the courage to incorporate ideas into my work that seemed impossible before. The courage found in vulnerability is powerful. Incorporating this into art is a recipe for making great things.
How has social media impacted your work?
I would say it has factored into my work in several ways. One of the greatest things social media has unlocked was being able to see as much art as I wanted. I'm old enough to remember what life was like before the internet and social media. If you wanted to see new art, the only ways were galleries, museums, and books. Now I can see more work in an hour than I ever could in a year before it existed. I can watch artist lectures, exhibition walkthroughs, and see work all over the world in videos. Of course, seeing art in person is much different. Going to museums is a pilgrimage that feels different, but I am thankful I can explore social media and expose myself to more art than ever before.
The other way social media has impacted my work is by providing platforms for the world to see my work. In less than a year after posting my work, I started having opportunities. This interview is just one example of this. Although looking at any work on a screen will never compare with seeing the actual art in person, it opens far more doors than it closes. I am grateful for it.
Your work has a very strong color palette; how do you decide what colors to use for each piece?
My current body of work comes from photos taken from my childhood. A lot of the photos are faded due to the materials and processes from that time. If I were to just recreate this as is, the images would only hold a certain sentiment and nostalgia. I manipulate the color palette as a way to illuminate things not present in the original image. The color palette I use is acidic, or toxic in ways. There is a sense that something isn't as it seems, or that there is some kind of imminent danger. Although the colors are vivid and bright, they fight one another and burn the retinae at times. These are not colors that are harmonious, or relaxing. However, there is always something in the color that leaves you feeling like the chaos works out in the end. They work in a way that rides the storm without fighting it.
IG: @jasonshelbyschuler