I want to be inspired by nature. Nature for me is far more complex than human problems. Not to discredit human problems but the theme of my work is that nature is the guiding force behind it and the ultimate force behind that is that we don’t truly understand nature and we are all kind of afraid of it.
Jason Middlebrook was born in Jackson, Michigan in 1966. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and a Master of Fine Arts from the San Francisco Art Institute. He also completed an Independent Study Program at The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
In his earlier works created in Brooklyn he focused on repurposing materials, while his more recent works created in Hudson, incorporate wood from his surroundings. He creates abstract forms, graphic patterns, and geometric shapes on cut and carved tree trunks. In recent years, he has also created pictorial and illustrative works that combine his wood art motifs with personal experiences.
Central to Middlebrook's artistic ethos is a commitment to experimentation and innovation. Blurring the boundaries between painting and sculpture, he navigates seamlessly between mediums, creating a body of work that is as diverse as it is visually compelling. His iconic plank sculptures, inspired by the natural beauty of indigenous hardwoods, serve as a testament to his reverence for the environment and his belief in art as a vehicle for social and environmental change.
Recent solo exhibitions include Bill Arning Gallery, Houston, TX; Galleria Giampaolo Abbondio, Todi, Italy; Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY; David Smith Gallery, Denver, CO; Moss Arts Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA; Gallery 16, San Francisco, CA; LaMontagne Gallery, Boston, MA; Jeff Bailey Gallery, Hudson, NY; Lora Reynolds Gallery, Austin, TX; Galleria Pack, Milan, Italy; David B. Smith Gallery, Denver, CO; Lora Reynolds Gallery, Austin, TX; Gallery 16, San Francisco, CA; and the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Catskill, NY.
Middlebrook’s work has been included in group exhibitions at the Children’s Museum of the Arts, New York, NY; Dorsky Museum of Art, New Paltz, NY; Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA; Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, CO; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA; Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg, FL; Orange County Museum of Art, Newport Beach, CA; Parco Archeologico di Siponto, Siponto, Italy; Peters Projects, Santa Fe, NM; Pizzuti Collection, Columbus, OH; and the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, among others.
His work may be found in the collections of the Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, MA; Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY; Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO; Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, MA; Marte Museum, San Salvador, El Salvador; Redmond, WA; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; NASA Art Program, Washington, D.C.; New Museum, New York, NY; Pizzuti Collection, Columbus, OH; US Embassy, Podgorica, Montenegro; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY, and elsewhere.
Middlebrook lives and works in Hudson, NY.