The winner of a several awards and grants, Jerry Lee Kirk has exhibited his paintings in dozens of galleries throughout the east coast, including Ward-Nasse Gallery in NYC, Waterworks Gallery in Salisbury, NC, R.J. Reynolds Gallery in Winston-Salem, NC, Center of the Earth in Charlotte, NC, and The Contemporary Art Museum in Raleigh, NC. His work is included in private collections around the world.

After an initial start at an art career that included work as an Editorial Cartoonist and Graphic Artist followed by a brief stint in the United States Air Force, Jerry picked up brushes and canvas and taught himself to paint at the age of 30. Originally from Falls Church, VA, Jerry moved to Charlotte, NC in 1991 where his fine art career really began in earnest. In Charlotte he became one of the Founding Fathers of NoDa, Charlotte’s Historic North Davidson Street Art District. He was also the owner and director of the award winning Sanctuary Art Studio and Galleries and a member of Charlotte's well-known and somewhat legendary Eclipse Art Group. He also, of course, worked day jobs as an Advertising Art Director and Senior Graphic Designer to help support the family. During this period of time, Jerry created an alias, Tony Java, in order to create paintings in a more whimsical style that harkens back to his beginnings as a cartoonist and is the polar opposite of what he does under the name of 'Kirk'. The Tony Java style became more popular than Jerry anticipated and so he continues to create art to this day using that name.

These days Jerry works from his home studio located in suburban South Charlotte, where he lives with his beautiful wife Lisa and absolutely perfect daughter, Elysia.

To view KIrk's Career Biography and milestones click here

 

"Expressionistic in style, my art is an attempt to depict the human condition at its most intimate level. As an acute observer of life in all its aspects, my art is influenced by the world around me including all forms of pop culture, from music to film to cartoon animation. The themes and ideas of the great Norwegian painter Edvard Munch have also been a major influence, his exploration of the human psyche laying the groundwork for the kinds of ideas that I seek to pursue.
Each individual piece of art that I create takes off from a narrative perspective or idea that usually stems from my own writings. I sometimes include statements and poems from these writings in the artwork as both an aesthetic element and a device to lure viewers in closer to the work. My tendency is to paint in a series of related pieces until the idea that I am pursuing is fully explored. There are instances, however, when a statement can be made with one strong piece.
Ultimately my art is about conveying personal concerns and ideas in regards to politics, social observances and emotions. With my art I desire to connect with the viewer through shared understanding and experiences. Although I tend to work in many different visual styles, as reflected in my broad range of influences, it is the expressionistic and thematic aspects that make the total body or work recognizable as a part of me."

- JERRY LEE KIRK, 2004