Meet Jacob Taylor Gibson | Artist & Printmaker

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

Hi Jacob Taylor, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I never quite felt fulfilled in anything else I did but art always gave me the validation I yearn for. Whether it be in the satisfaction of finishing a project or the pride in advancing my skills, nothing feels quite as purposeful as the making process. When I was younger, I never felt truly engaged with school until taking woodworking classes focused on functional forms in high school. This is probably where my love for community and process based art was founded which I’ve continued to find in ceramics and printmaking. These communal spaces made me feel like I was part of something larger and interconnected but, most importantly, supported. Most importantly, I’m especially grateful for the ways that pursuing an artistic career has opened up important conceptual pathways as I continue my practice. My artistic career is currently driven by explorations of trauma and unresolved feelings that I’m not sure I would’ve been capable of coping with otherwise.

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.
I work primarily as a printmaker using lithography, intaglio, and screenprint but, my process also reaches into installation and ceramic sculpture. My work specifically analyzes interpersonal connections, abuse, and the resulting emotions associated with abuse through visual metaphors created by use of antique objects and domestic interiors. Making work so personal and driven by personal metaphor has offered a unique healing opportunity for myself which, I hope, can be interpreted by the viewer who may need to heal in a similar manner.

However, exploring these heavier topics can be especially difficult when the work is so intertwined with personal experiences and feelings which requires a degree of vulnerability when showing/talking about the work. Earlier in my practice when I had trouble with being open about what drives my work, I thought of the work that I value and am influenced by and found what connected these artists was a blunt honesty and sincerity. In no way was it easy but, being as open and honest as possible not only helped the work but also personally coping with the experiences present in the narrative of the work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Probably not a very unique answer but the galleries and museums around DFW are where I spend most of my time in the area. The DMA and Arts Fort Worth on their own are wonderful resources and places to spend the day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am with the printmaking and ceramics communities I’ve found in academia. The printmaking club I was in called P.R.E.S.S. during undergrad was instrumental in making me feel supported and included as a young artist and this has transferred over to the incredible graduate students in printmaking within my cohort at UNT. Similarly the ceramics community I found in undergrad led me to pursue ceramics further in grad school which is where I found incredibly supportive mentors like Brooks Oliver. The friends I’ve made during my artistic career are the main reason I’ve stuck with art and I’m incredibly grateful to them and my partner Katie who has supported me the entire time.

Website: www.jacobtaylorgibson.com

Instagram: jacobtaylorgibson