Jonas Gerard

Born in Casablanca, Morrocco in 1941 of French and Brazilian ancestry, Jonas Gerard immigrated to America at the age of thirteen and began participating in art shows on the streets of New York at sixteen. Living the professional and personal life of an artist since then, he has been “blessed or cursed” (to quote the artist) with a need to express the constant non-stop flow of energy that surrounds his daily life.

His work can be found in numerous permanent national and international collections. In 1975 his Bicentennial Portrait of the United States, “We the People”, was presented to President Gerald Ford at the White House and is now a permanent part of the Smithsonian collection.

A self-represented artist, today Jonas travels around the country, participating in about 40 group exhibitions and major art festivals each year. “For me, connecting with my audience one-on-one is as important as the painting itself.”

For a complete experience of the visual and sensorial world of Jonas Gerard, visit , or reach his Miami Beach studio, Turning Point Gallery, at 305-864-6049.

My work has led me on a totally unpredictable journey throughout my life, as I constantly discover new ways and forms of self expression. Over and over for nearly 50 years, it has transformed itself from large steel outdoor sculptures to wooden wall hangings, to all manner of painting and 2-D mixed media. The absolute joy of discovery is an integral part of who I am as an artist.

At this time my style is highly abstract, working primarily on large and extra-large canvases. I love to experiment with composition, using multiple layers of very colorful opaque and transparent acrylics over a deeply textural base. This gives my paintings a life and presence, and draws audiences into experiencing the work with more than just their eyes. People, especially children, love to touch the art and that’s OK by me.

While in my studio, I always have a variety of music at hand. A good rhythm helps me to allow intuition to drive the process. The action of painting becomes very gestural, like a dance with the canvas, and the painting paints itself through me.

My work can be found all over the U.S. and the world, in private as well as public collections. Every summer and fall I participate in 30 or so exhibitions across the country, coming home to my waterfront studio in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida when winter arrives.