Meet Jacob Cage | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacob Cage and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacob, how do you think about risk?
Risk is often associated with fear and the unknown- two things that are essential for growth in any aspect of life. As an artist the combination of these elements have thrusted my creative pursuits beyond what I ever thought possible and pushed my art to places I never imagined going. Early in my career the fear of a painting not amounting to a “finished” piece held me stagnate. I was attempting the same thing over and over with the expectation of a different result- the definition of insanity. I had to free myself from the constraints I placed upon my practice, which for me was the greatest risk of all. It was also the most rewarding.

Apply to every opportunity. Work feverishly. Trust the process. Invest in yourself. Not all risks yield positive results, but the accumulation of many move you forward.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My current body of work draws from abstraction, psychedelia, expressionism, and optics to create colorful planes of youthful delirium. With a heavy emphasis on color, my art evokes joy and freedom with hidden messages of deeper realizations for the viewer. Each of these realizations are both unique and universal to those contemplating my work as they are individual moments of a collective consciousness. My canvases mirror the world around us. Everything is a pattern or the corruption of pattern, and in this we find stability and chaos existing simultaneously; duality and the space between poles.

What excites me most about my art is creating the next piece. I have been able to identify what is important to me both aesthetically and conceptually in order to create art that is the truest form of myself. However, the journey to this point in my career has been extremely difficult. It has taken a lot of self-reflection, honestly, and accountability. It is never easy to call yourself out, and even more so to change the things you have held onto for security. Fear of failure is the biggest crutch and it took me many years to admit to myself I was grasping onto this crutch for dear life. I was scared to lose control, but the loss of control has been the most exciting part of where I am today. I embrace spontaneity and happy accidents. I take pride in intuition and reactionary painting. I allow myself the freedom to create with the knowledge that art can’t be controlled.

If nothing else, the one thing I want people to take from my art is a renewed sense of wonder. That when someone looks at my work they are reminded of experience and the deconstruction of the world around them. That when they look away, they are thinking about the whole and the parts that make up the whole. That somehow my work extends into their everyday life and when they see the sun they smile.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have only lived in North Palm Beach for 6 months so I am still exploring the city as if I were a visitor. However, a few of my favorite restaurants so far would have to be Kapow Noodle Bar, Lola 41, Buccan Sandwich Shop, and Dune Dog for their all-you-can-eat-ribs on Monday nights. I love food and there is not shortage of amazing restaurants to dine in the Palm Beaches. Clematis Street has a huge nightlife scene, so if you are looking for a night of bar hopping, that’s definitely the place to go.

Beyond food and drink, the beaches here are universally beautiful. Loggerhead Beach is the closest to me so I often visit there for a day in the sun, just don’t forget your sunscreen! Also, underneath the Blue Heron Bridge you can find amazing man-made reefs for scuba-diving and snorkeling. You might even find Nemo amongst a school of clown fish!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are a few people that have helped me tremendously throughout my career. First is my mentor Carrie Ann Baade, who was the first person to believe in me as a true artist. I would also like to thank the Graduate Art Faculty of University of Delaware who pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of. My partner Ronald Conboy, my parents and two amazing sisters, and the friends who made the hard times fun and the sad times a little less dark. I am only the summation of those in my life and I treasure you all deeply.

Website: www.jacobcage.com

Instagram: @jacobcage