About

Bio:

Jason Rafferty is a painter, draftsman and printmaker based in Asheville, NC. A recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, he has pursued classical training in drawing and oil painting in the U.S. and France since 2010, studying at Studio Escalier in Paris, France; the Fine Arts League of the Carolinas; apprenticing with the landscape painter John Mac Kah, and attending UNC Asheville, where he is currently completing a BFA degree in painting. His artwork has been featured on the Travel Channel, and can be found in private collections across the US and internationally. 

Jason has exhibited regularly in group and solo exhibitions in the Southeast US since 2012. He was selected to be a featured emerging artist at Four Bridges Art Festival in Chattanooga, TN in 2017, and in 2016 was an invitee to the annually-juried Winter Show at Greenhill Art Center, a survey of the best artists in North Carolina.  Jason also enjoys collaborating with and supporting local nonprofits and businesses in the Asheville area with his art. He has donated artwork to fundraise for organizations including the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, River Link, Open Doors, Western North Carolina Aids Project (WNCAP), Appalachian Wildlife Refuge, and Pisgah Legal. He is a regular participant in exhibitions organized by the Saints of Paint for fundraise for such causes.

Jason welcomes your inquiries for commissions and art classes. He also puts out an email newsletter once every month or two, sharing his latest artwork with a devoted following.

Artist Statement:

I have always favored artists who have an eclectic body of work that displays many interests, and that is my aspiration as an artist. My subject matter includes landscape, figurative art, portraiture and still life. I work extensively from life observation as well as memory and imagination, often favoring an approach that combines the two to produce works that interweave realism and fantasy. My most recent artwork explores narrative mythic figurative painting set in dramatic landscapes. The history of drawing and painting is immensely important to me, particularly Baroque, Romantic and Symbolist artworks, and I wish to make work that is rooted in a rich historical foundation yet which speaks to the contemporary viewer. Craftsmanship is also extremely important, and I take pride in offering products that are prepared by hand, painted with the highest quality materials, and are made to last for generations. 

C.V.

Jason Rafferty

b. 1991

Education

Present: BFA, UNC Asheville, Art program, Drawing & Painting. 2009-2011, 2016-present

Present: Association / Apprenticeship with professional landscape painter John Mac Kah, Riverview Station, 191 Lyman St., Asheville, NC. 2012-present.

Present: Copying and intensive study at numerous museums in US & Europe after various masters. 2008-present

2012 - 2015: Study of figure drawing and painting at Studio Escalier. Winter at the Louvre 2012, Paris, Fr. (8 weeks), Summer Intensive 2013, Argenton-les-Vallées, Fr. (12 weeks), Summer Intensive 2014, Argenton-les-Vallées, Fr. (12 weeks), Spring in Paris 2 Figure Drawing 2015, Paris, Fr. (4 weeks).

2012 Workshop studies with professional artists Nicholas Raynolds, Rebecca King and Ben Long IV in Asheville, NC.

2009 - 2012: Fine Arts League of the Carolinas, classical approaches to drawing.

Awards / Grants

2018-19: Art Alumni Scholarship, UNC Asheville.

2018: Alternate, XL Caitlin Art Prize Exhibit. (Jurors: Carrie Barratt, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Jennie Goldstein, Whitney Museum of American Art, Laura Hoptman, The Museum of Modern Art, Kara Vander Weg, Gagosian Gallery)

2018: Best in Show, 16th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Grace Centre Gallery, Mills River, NC. Juror: Virginia Derryberry

2018: Third Place Prize. 51st Annual UNC Asheville Juried Student Art Exhibition, Asheville, NC. Juror: Robert Tynes

2017-18: Drawing Discourse Scholarship, UNC Asheville.

2017: Featured Emerging Artist, 4 Bridges Arts Festival, Chattanooga, TN. (One of six)

2014: Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant

2014: Waterway Fellowship for Artistic Merit, Studio Escalier, Paris, France.

2013: Waterway Fellowship for Artistic Merit, Studio Escalier, Paris, France.

2009: Excellence in Two-Dimensional Design Award, King Philip High School, Wrentham, Massachusetts.

Exhibitions

Solo: 

2019 Solo Exhibition: "Mythic Images", Asheville NC, April 19-30, 2019. Highsmith Gallery, UNC Asheville.

2014  Solo Exhibition: "Art of Jason Rafferty: Second Solo Exhibition", Metro Wines, Asheville, NC. November 1, 2014 - January 2, 2015.

2012  Solo Exhibition, “Art of Jason Rafferty: Two Dispositions”, Izzy’s Coffee Den, Asheville, NC. July 2012.

Group:

2019 52nd Annual UNC Asheville Juried Student Art Exhibition. RAMP gallery, Asheville NC. March 1-16, 2019. (Third place award, Juror: Hayden Wilson)

2019 Group Exhibition: BUMP: A Color-Focused Popup Exhibition, The Center for Craft, Creativity, and Design, Asheville, NC. January 2019. (Juror: Mary Lube)

2018 Group Exhibition: 16th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Grace Centre Gallery, Mills River, NC, Nov. 3, 2018 - January 8th. (Best in Show award, Juror: Virginia Derryberry)

2018 Group Exhibition: New Forms: Juried Student Exhibition, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Oct. 27 - Dec. 8. (Juror: Beth Cavener)

2018 Group Exhibition: Of Valley and Ridge, Invitational Exhibition benefitting the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Zealandia  Castle, Asheville, NC, Oct. 26 - 28, 2018.

2018 Group Exhibition: Horizon Art Productions Inaugural Exhibit, Invitational Exhibition, Rosewood Cultural Center, Rosewood, NC. August 3rd -31st. (Juror / Producer: Joseph Bounds)

2018 51st Annual UNC Asheville Juried Student Art Exhibition. Asheville Area Arts Council, April 6 - May 4th. (Third place prize, Juror: Robert Tynes)

2017 Four Bridges Art Festival, Chattanooga, TN, April 20-22, 2017. Featured Emerging Artist Award.

2017 Group exhibition: 50h Annual Juried Student Exhibit, UNC Asheville, Feb. 24th - March 28th, 2017.

2017 Group Exhibition: Of Time and the River: Artists Interpret the French Broad, Invitational Exhibition benefitting River Link. Zealandia  Castle, Asheville, NC, October 21-23rd, 2017.

2016 Group Exhibition, Greenhill Art Center “Winter Show”, Invitational Statewide Exhibition of North Carolina Artists. Dec. 4 - Jan. 13th, 2017. Greensboro, NC.

2016 Group Exhibition: Of Time and the River: Artists Interpret the French Broad, Invitational Exhibition benefitting River Link. Zealandia  Castle, Asheville, NC, October 21-23rd, 2016.

2016-2015  Group Exhibition: Windsor Boutique Hotel, Asheville, NC. Jan. 5th, 2015 - Dec. 31, 2016.

2015 Group Exhibition: Of Time and the River: Artists Interpret the French Broad, Invitational Exhibition benefitting River Link. Sol’s Reprieve, Asheville, NC, Sept. 30th & October 15-18th, 2015.

2015 Group Exhibition, The Shop at Greenhill, Greensboro, NC. Nov. 19th, 2015 - January 2016.

2015 Group Exhibition, Alchemy Fine Art Gallery, Asheville, NC, May 24- June 26th.

2015 Group Exhibition: Art for Justice, benefitting Pisgah Legal. Cottonmill Studios, Asheville, NC. May 14th, 2015.

2014-16 Art Display: Chestnut, Craft Food & Cocktails, Asheville, NC.

2014  Group Exhibition: Of Time and the River: Artists Interpret the French Broad, Invitational Exhibition benefitting River Link. Sol’s Reprieve, Asheville, NC, October 23rd, 6-9pm.

2014  Group Exhibition, Old Europe Cafe, Asheville, NC 2012 - December 2014 (ongoing exhibit)

2014  Group Exhibition, “Twitter Art Exhibit: Orlando”, City Arts Factory, Orlando, Fl., March - April 2014

2014  Group Exhibition, “Longbranch Studios 14th Anniversary exhibition - featuring John Mac Kah, Alisa Lumbreras, & Jason Rafferty”, Asheville, NC March 2014

2014  Group Exhibition, “Portrait Drawings & Paintings” Alchemy Fine Art Gallery, Asheville, NC, February 2014

2013  Group Exhibition, “Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina Traveling Exhibit”, Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville, NC April - November 2013.

2013  Group Exhibition, Updraft Gallery, Asheville, NC March - May 2013

2011  Group Exhibition, “Annual Art Front Members Exhibition”, Highsmith University Gallery, Asheville, NC

2011  Group Exhibition, “UNCA 44th Annual Juried Student Exhibition”, S. Tucker Cooke Gallery, Asheville, NC; Kate Silvio, Juror

2011 Group Exhibition, “Norfolk Cultural Council’s January Art Exhibition”. Norfolk Public Library Gallery, Norfolk, MA

Artworks in Notable Private Collections:

• Tom Oreck, Oreck Vacuums, Asheville, NC, US.
• Yann Bellier, Galeries Bellier, Paris, France.
• Cosimo de Pazzi, Pazzi Family Collection, New York, NY.

Nonprofit Fundraisers / Donations:

“Of Valley and Ridge”, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, 2018.

Open Doors of Asheville, “Art Affair”, 2014- 16, 2018. 2016 & 2018: Live Auction.

Quickdraw Waynesville, benefitting local art programs - 2016.

“Of Time & The River”, Benefitting River Link, Asheville. 2014-17.

Wildlife Association benefit - Asheville - 2016.

Asheville Art in the Park  - 2010-2016.

Western North Carolina Aids Project, “Raise Your Hand”, 2015.

Pisgah Legal Associates - “Art For Justice”, 2015.

Bibliography

2017 - The Current, affiliated with Atlantis Creative Arts Magazine, UNC Wilmington

2017  - Headwaters Creative Arts Magazine, UNC Asheville

2016 - Asheville Citizen Times, October 25, 2016, “Buncombe Officials Seek Public Input on Courthouse Art”.

2016 - Asheville Citizen Times, October 17, 2016, “Celebrate Arts & the River at Zelandia Castle”.

2016 - Asheville Citizen Times - March 24, 2016, “Local Artists’ Artwork Stolen from Riverview Station Studios”. 

2016 Capital at Play - Feb. 21, 2016, “Malt on a Mission”, Magazine cover, feature article p. 8.

 https://issuu.com/capitalatplay/docs/cap_v06e03_march-2016_issu.

2014  - Mountain Xpress, October 9, 2014, “Open air art exhibit with French Broad River theme to benefit RiverLink”

July 2012  - Rapid River Arts & Culture Magazine, Vol. 15, No. 11, 

“Fine Art - Interview with Jason Rafferty”

2011  - Headwaters Creative Arts Magazine, UNC Asheville

2011  - The Country Gazette, January 14, 2011. “Art at the Norfolk Library: Jason Rafferty, Rick Tedoldi, Bill Robinsion”

2010  - Metabolism Art & Culture Review, UNC Asheville, Vol. 5, Issue 4. 

Radio / Video / TV

2016 - Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, contracted for prop artworks for film, May 12, 2016.

2016 - WLOS News 13 - “Buncombe County Commissioners Restart Planning for Public Art Project”, Interview with Jason Rafferty, November 1st, 2016. http://wlos.com/news/local/commissioners-restart-buncombe-county-courthouse-public-art-project

2016 - The Dead Files - sketch artist - Travel Channel. Aired 8/13/2016

2016 - 1 Hour Interview at WPVM 103.7 - “Asheville & The Arts”, May 12, 2016. 

2016 - WLOS News 13 - “Artwork Stolen from River Arts District Studio”, March 23, 2016.

2014  - Interview at “Of Time & the River” exhibit, WPVM Radio, Asheville, NC, Nov. 7th, 2014.

2011  - Garza, Jonathan, Collective Perspectives. Interview at “The Garage at Biltmore” Asheville, NC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrBBJSYWW-s

Online

2016 - WLOS News 13, November 1st, 2016. - “Buncombe County Commissioners Restart Planning for Public Art Project”, Interview with Jason Rafferty. http://wlos.com/news/local/commissioners-restart-buncombe-county-courthouse-public-art-project

2016 - Asheville Citizen Times, October 25, 2016, ““Buncombe Officials Seek Public Input on Courthouse Art”. http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2016/10/25/buncombe-officials-seek-public-input-choosing-art/92720570/?platform=hootsuite

2016 - Asheville Citizen Times, October 17, 2016, “Celebrate Arts & the River at Zelandia Castle” http://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2016/10/17/celebrate-arts-and-river-zealandia-castle/92055756/

2016 - WLOS News 13, March 23rd, 2016. - “Artwork Stolen from Several Studios in the River Arts District”, Interview with Jason Rafferty. http://wlos.com/news/local/commissioners-restart-buncombe-county-courthouse-public-art-project http://wlos.com/news/local/artwork-stolen-from-several-rad-studios

2015 - McReynolds, Kay, “Local Artist Jason Rafferty gives back to the community he muses on” Mountain Xpress Blog, 03/12/2015 http://mountainx.com/arts/local-artist-jason-rafferty-gives-back-to-the-community-he-muses-on/

2015 - Basalo, Philip, “How to Collaborate with Nonprofits to Increase Art Sales”, written by Jason Rafferty. The Abundant Artist, 03/11/2015. http://theabundantartist.com/collaborate-nonprofits-increase-art-sales/

2015 - Higgins, Lauryn, “10 Questions with Local Artists Jason Rafferty & Sally Garner” Asheville Grit, 02/12/2015 ashevillegrit.com/10-questions-local-artists-jason-rafferty-sally-garner

2014  - Trippi, Gina, “Jason Rafferty” Art Space: Metro Wines Blog, 10/09/2014 https://www.metrowinesasheville.com/blog/entry/jason-rafferty

2014  - Poirier, Alexander, “Pencil Artist of the Week: Jason Rafferty” The PENCILS Blog, 02/11/2014 http://pencils.com/pencil-artist-jason-rafferty/