Jonah Jacobs

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Jonah Jacobs is an artist with Danish roots who has spent the majority of his life in the United States. A graduate of Antioch College and an Army veteran who served in South Korea and the 82nd Airborne Division, Jonah brings a diverse background to his artistic practice.

In his artwork, Jonah draws inspiration from the intricate structures found in nature, ranging from the spirals of galaxies to the intricate patterns of tree roots and honeycombs. His primary focus is to recreate the grandeur and complexity of these natural structures. Unlike traditional representations of flora and fauna, Jonah's approach involves distilling the essence of natural forms into abstracted sculptures that capture the intertwined nature of form and function.

The philosophical foundation of Jonah's sculptures lies in understanding the physicality and interconnectedness inherent in nature. His unconventional use of materials sets his work apart, with oatmeal being a key element that, along with sand and plaster, provides a unique textural quality. The oatmeal acts as a sponge for various dyes, resulting in vibrant and naturally blended tones. Many of his organic sculptures are created through a layering method, growing vertically from a "genetic blueprint."

Fire plays a significant role in some of Jonah's pieces, introducing spontaneity and organic shapes to prevent the work from becoming overly formulaic. The exploration of how beauty and complexity emerge from the repetition of simple shapes is a central theme. His sculptures often involve combining thousands of individual pieces to create intricate organic forms, utilizing a wide array of unconventional materials such as cardboard, egg cartons, dryer sheets, yarn, textiles, cardboard tubes, gravel, Styrofoam, Polyfil, salt, spices, quinoa, and oatmeal.

In essence, Jonah's work grapples with the emergence of complexity from simple shapes, highlights the inherent structural qualities of nature, delves into the use of unconventional materials, sparks discussions about waste, explores sustainable practices in art, and examines the relationship between monotonous labor, skill, and the spontaneous, organic development of forms.