Palin Perez Jackson

Palin Perez-Jackson was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1973 and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Perez-Jackson has been painting since he was a child who gained the ability to hold a pencil, and later the paintbrush. Palin is a self-taught artist that has been, in his own words, “Very lucky,“ to have had ample opportunities to show with many talented artists, such as: Dana Depew, Bruno Casiano, Gabe Gonzales, Scott Radke, and his own friend, Will “Topiltzin“ Sanchez. While Palin does not know where his art will lead him, he knows from where it originates. Its most obvious influences are his children and the world at large. He also finds motivation in some well known period painters, as well as a few newcomers. The fluidity of his work is greatly inspired by the music he hears; staring at his style one can sense the jazz, heavy metal, hip hop and salsa rhythms flowing from the canvas. Palin Perez-Jackson’s heritage is awash with a distinguished line of painters and musicians. It is his ambition to continue the tradition of talent within his own family. Perez-Jackson is not only a celebrated artist, but also an entrepreneur and patron of his culture. In 2002 He opened the first Latino owned and managed art gallery in the greater Cleveland metropolitan area. La Cosecha, meaning The Harvest, did well and was well received by the Latino community, who, until then were starved for a place to showcase their culture and artistic abilities. It was a period of understanding and union, when the Latino community found what it had been searching for, an opportunity to display their identity. Palin reached his goal in La Cosecha; he had the ability to open the doors to other Latinos so that they could follow in his footsteps. A year later he moved on to new ventures, closing the doors of La Cosecha, much to the dismay of the community. The much needed outlet, for him and the Latino community, will always hold an honored place in Palin’s memory and his heart. Upon being interviewed, Palin admits that he gave many artists their first break/show during a time when many were turned away by conventional galleries. He states simply, "Hey someone had to; I mean, someone took a chance on me right?" This trailblazing enterpriser has made art his profession, fully, for nearly five years, and says in his own words, “There are many great artists that I have not mentioned, but they know who they are. The real artist has an inbred confidence about them, almost to the point of arrogance. That being said, I want to be remembered as a painter, not a Latino painter, nor a Brooklyn or Cleveland painter, just a great painter. My art is angry, sexy and funky; it’s like a punch in the face. I try to fuse hate, love, religion and politics with a little bit of poetry and hope. In the end, it just looks cool. Peace."