We had the pleasure to interview Jumper Maybach about his latest works the 1900 K Street Installation in Washington D.C. and the diptych “Evening Star.” 1900 K is the first multiple-panel piece by Jumper Maybach, known for his large-scale, dynamic and layered abstract paintings
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1900 K was built specifically to accommodate the curved wall surface in the Cesar Pelli-designed building’s main lobby; the final piece is 21 feet wide when the panels are arranged. The enormity of the piece (his first polyptych), plus the added complexity of painting twelve individual canvases as part of a whole, presented new challenges for the artist, known for his energetic and exuberant application of paint and texture. Choosing primary colors signature to his technique, the painting was designed in real time as the mediums were applied. Keeping the continuity and integrity of the whole in mind, larger streaks of red and blue create a sense of unity and strengthen the work. 1900 K complements Maybach’s other large-scale work in Washington D.C., titled Evening Star. The diptych, located in the entryway of the landmark Evening Star building on Pennsylvania Avenue, features serene and calming hues of blue, cyan and magenta, accented by bold and exuberant swathes of yellow.
Kooness: Is there anything in particular that inspired you for these pieces?
Jumper Maybach: I was inspired by the dynamism of our nation's capital, and our ability to create and effect change. The primary colors and bold, gestural swathes of paint are exciting and uplifting, while the geometric precision of the panels all fitting into the alcove creates a sense of order and control.
Kooness: How are these pieces different from your previous artworks and paintings?
JM: The main difference is the scale and the complexity of the piece. In order to accommodate the curve of the wall, we built 12 individual panels so that, when installed, they are flush against the wall and fit perfectly. I’ve done a diptych before - but this was the first polyptych. It’s definitely a format I’d like to continue to explore.
K: How did your art evolve through the years? How has your style changed over time?
JM: I’ve explored themes of identity, fear, and the cosmic depths of the inner world over the past 10+ years creating art. I’ve moved from more figurative pieces to more abstract, and am exploring bringing figurative elements back into my pieces, while still incorporating my signature style.
Jumper Maybach installation. Courtesy of Winstone Wall Gallery.
MK: What have critics and collectors said about these latest pieces?
JM: My latest work has been very well received and I’m so grateful for this! Recently, one of my pieces was selected for an exhibition in the Houston Airport System. This is particularly exciting because our airport system has received top honors at the World Airport Awards for having the best airport arts program in the world. Additionally, my collectors have been wonderful. One just sent me the kindest note, which shares: “We recently moved to the Bahamas and Jumper’s art has served as a constant reminder of our roots. We own 3 pieces and love them equally; the NYC skyline representing our birthplace, the Houston skyline where our family grew and most recently our current residence in the Bahamas (aka Ocean). These places have significant meaning in our family story and Jumper has represented them beautifully in each work! Customers for life…”
~ Adam and Jessica Shatkun
K: What would you like to transmit through your artworks?
JM: My motto is to use art to create love and joy, and combat hate and intolerance. I use my art to share my triumph over adversity and the spirit of transformation, and hope to inspire others to embrace their true self and live boldly.
K: What technique did you use for the artworks?
JM: My mediums were spray paint and acrylics, and the works were created using full-body, dynamic gestural movements. The canvases were laid out on the floor, and I followed my intuition and energy to apply the layers of paint.
Jumper Maybach installation and the artist. Courtesy of Winstone Wall Gallery.
K: Is the choice of color significant to you and the outcome of the artworks? How do you choose colors and shades for your artworks?
JM: As this piece was a commission, I worked with the client to determine a color scheme. They chose bold primary colors for this piece, which contrasts with the work I did for the same clients at the Evening Star Building. For that piece, I chose a cooler, more subdued color palette that was evocative of the ‘evening’ theme, and that building’s beautiful beaux arts facade. At 1900K, which is filled with warm woods and flooded with natural light, we wanted to create a visually exciting, bright and colorful piece that would be arresting and enticing to passers-by and guests.
K: Does art help you in other areas of your life?
JM: Art is the conduit for my psyche. It is my therapy, and in many ways, my savior. I underwent countless traumas big and small growing up in very conservative Texas, unable to accept or be accepted for my sexuality. I struggled with bullies even into my professional career. Embracing the Jumper persona was my way out of that cycle of intolerance and oppression - both internal and external. Art is where I understand my vision, it’s my meditation
K: Please describe how you navigate the professional art industry.
JM: I’ve always been an ‘outsider’ artist - in a sense, a maverick. I have been blessed to connect directly with the people who respond to my work and support my ever-evolving art practice. At my first opening, I was discovered by the Museum of the Americas and was soon off to Dubai. Eventually, that trip led to the creation of the award-winning documentary about my life “The Jumper Maybach Story,” which catapulted the trajectory of my career. I have museum provenance and my work has been shown internationally including the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, and the Villa Pisani National Museum in Venice, Italy. The work has also been exhibited throughout the United States, and I enjoy connecting with my collectors at Fairs like the Hamptons International Art Fair, Palm Beach International, Art Miami, Art Wynwood and more. Accessibility to my work is very important to me and I try to accommodate those on a smaller budget by offering embellished prints, as well as apparel, accessories, and home goods directly from my website JumperMaybach.com. And perhaps most fun, we are launching our first-ever pet line, Axel Roze Pets x Jumper Maybach, this year.