Get to Know: Jacob Guzman
“It was just crazy for me,” says Jacob Guzman. “This is my first time seeing my work hanging up by itself, you know?”
Guzman is currently the featured artist for this month’s solo exhibition at ArtUs Co in The Arboretum. His gallery show, entitled Introspection & Fortitude, consists of large acrylic paintings whose bold colors and shapes are home to smaller details invoking the viewer’s curiosity and self-reflection on how they relate to the world around them. This impact that the world has on individuals, and vice versa, fuels Guzman’s need to create, which can be chaotic and all-encompassing when inspiration strikes.
“Sometimes I feel overrun with creativity,” Guzman says, “and I have these ideas bouncing off my skull walls in my head. Like, ‘If I had five pieces laying out, I could probably work on five pieces and finish them all right now.’”
Portrait of Jacob Guzman, courtesy of the artist.
Guzman had not originally intended for his paintings to be shown altogether, but his ability to whip out pieces with a speed most artists fantasize about likely made it even trickier to decide which to include in his gallery show. Guzman says he eventually decided to display the pieces that stood out the most to him.
“[I wanted to show] the ones that were most eye-catching, visually impactful, also emotionally impactful,” he says. “The ones that were my personal favorites. The ones I wanted to be shown.”
ArtUs Co gallery curator Maggie Lyon was “immediately impressed” by the scale of Guzman’s paintings as well as his work ethic when she went for a studio visit while deciding who to feature for the solo exhibition. She explains that who the artist is as a person is just as important to her as the art they create when making this decision.
“We want to represent the artist themselves just as much as their work,” she says. “We want to be proud of who they are.”
Lyon adds that the decision to feature Guzman was a no-brainer, especially after seeing his work in person and getting to speak with him. “I believe he is very deserving of it… I just knew that he was somebody the world needs to see.”
And the world is starting to take notice of Guzman. The downtown cafe-during-the-day-and-bar-in-the-evening, Native Hostel, is featuring several of Guzman’s paintings in mid-September. There are also a few different galleries in east Austin that have expressed interest in his work. If this pattern continues, Guzman’s big plans are sure to unfold.
“I want to get into a museum,” he says. “My goal is to go down in history books.”
However, it is not necessarily about fame for Guzman, but rather, what he can achieve with the influence that comes with it. He knows his path may not be perfect, but he wants to be able to take risks and learn from his mistakes in order to help guide other people.
“I just want to help.” He shrugs and flashes a shy smile. “That’s it. I just want to help.”
Jacob Guzman will be giving an artist talk about his show, Introspection and Fortitude, on September 3, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. where he will answer questions and discuss his process, the message of the exhibition, and more. You don’t want to miss it!
Written by Kaiti Neuman.
Guzman’s solo exhibition, Introspection & Fortitude, on display at ArtUs Co in The Arboretum.