Jay Sharpe

Inspired by archival photographs traditionally seen in black-and-white, my work uses striking shades of blue to reimagine the lives and possibilities of the people depicted. I consider what might have been possible for them and what becomes more visible when we view the past through a contemporary lens. In doing so, I preserve their presence while extending their stories into the present.

I'm drawn to the tension between what feels familiar and what feels new: "You've seen it, but you haven't seen it like this." Through remixing, layering, and playful explorations of color, my paintings connect generations, allowing past and present to collide while inviting viewers to look again and reconsider what they thought they knew.

OMO VALLEY GIRL, 2026

24 × 24 in

Acrylic on wood

$3,025