About Jason Oliva

Jason Oliva Self Portrait

Acrylic on Canvas 20″ x 32″

Collection of the Artist

 

Jason Oliva was born in Union, New Jersey in 1970. His childhood and teenage years were largely spent reading comic books, being astonished by Star Wars and motoring around the waters of New Jersey and New York on his father’s boat. Skateboarding played a hugely important role in Jason’s life, especially his teenage years,  and the people and places that were a part of that scene continue to influence him and his art today. From 1989-1992 Jason studied finance at The George Washington University, became a comic book dealer, and worked at several music venues, one of which was Constitution Hall where he had a strange encounter with Bob Dylan. At the ripe old age of 21 Jason left Washington, D.C. for New York City in 1992 where he began trading options on the floor of the American Stock Exchange and continued to do so till early 2002. Drawing, painting and creating had always been an integral part of Jason’s life in one form or another since childhood and throughout school and University. In 2000 Jason had his first art show at John Allen’s Men’s Club in downtown Manhattan. It was a sell -out! And that really was the official start of Jason’s art career. Since then he has had shows at John Allans Downtown, Midtown, Saks Fifth Avenue and CBGB’s 313 art gallery. In 2007 Jason moved to Norfolk, England with his wife, Sophie. The painting and the creative process continues.

‘Your paintings are so playful, with the vibrant colors adding such a sparkle to the stately elegance of the base of black lines. Your work seems to combine the best elements of James Thurber, Ralph Steadman and Ronald Searle’s illustrations, infused with the pop art sensibilities of Roy Lichtenstein. It’s Picasso in Technicolor, and it’s absolutely fabulous! I can only hope that it’s as much of a pleasure to paint as it is to look at. One gets the impression that they were done in a kind of gleeful abandon, illustrating the passion of a young heart and an old soul.’

If you would like to purchase or commission a painting, or discuss any of Jason’s work please feel free to contact him.

 Email: jasonoliva@gmail.com