DEREK JACKSON

HARRISONBURG, VA |  UNITED STATES

Art That Speaks

Derek Jackson’s art is far more than a visual experience. It reflects the complexity of contemporary society, filled with contrasts, voices and an endless flow of opinions. His canvases are vibrant fields of colour that also act as quiet reflections on the overwhelming presence of commentary in the age of social media. Through the speech bubbles that partially cover his images, Derek challenges the viewer and invites a deeper look at the world we navigate every day. In this interview, he shares his artistic vision, his creative process and the influences behind his work, offering insight into the rich interplay of colours, styles, and ideas that define his art.

Your artistic journey began with dreams of studying in New York and creating great works of art. Despite facing challenges, you never gave up on your passion. Can you share how these early ambitions shaped you, and how the obstacles you overcame influenced your style and artistic approach?

As a teenager, I always wanted to live in New York City and do something meaningful. It did not matter what it was. I believed I could learn quickly. I stepped away from art when I was nine and did not reconnect with it until my second to last year of high school. From that moment, I took every art class available. Eventually, I tried to attend art school in New York, but the tuition was far beyond what I could manage.

My desire to experience New York was so strong that I began creating paintings based on images of Manhattan I found online. It took time, but I finally made it to the city when I was twenty one. That sense of resilience stays with me and is part of my work today. I believe that when we stay open to ideas, even the ones that seem small or insignificant, they can grow into something meaningful. What feels unimportant at first can later become useful or inspiring.

Your work often features speech bubbles as a metaphor for the overwhelming presence of opinions. This element has become a signature of your art. How did this idea evolve over time, and how does it adapt to the different themes you explore in your paintings?

The idea of using speech bubbles came to me after I created a piece called Black and White. It is a large painting, forty by sixty inches, and with a canvas that size I wanted to make a bold statement. I did not want to do something traditional. One afternoon, while scrolling through Instagram, I noticed how everyone seemed to have an opinion about everything. People commented on what was good or bad, even about something as small as disliking the colour purple. I realised this could be a powerful concept to explore in my work.

At the moment, all my paintings include speech bubbles, but I hope to move beyond them in the future. Technology keeps changing and I want to change with it. TikTok, for example, has a stitching feature that lets people add their own thoughts onto someone else’s video. I am thinking about creating portraits where the subject blocks parts of the painting. My message keeps developing, just as technology does.

You blend various painting styles, from abstraction to realistic depictions, giving your works a unique dynamic. How do you decide which style to use in a particular piece, and how does this contribute to the layers and depth of your art?

I choose the style of each piece based on what the artwork itself calls for. Sometimes I am in the mood to challenge myself with something highly realistic, like painting a birdcage. Other times I am drawn to a different visual language, such as the graphic style associated with Shepard Fairey, and I might create something like a poodle inspired by that approach. The speech bubbles remain the element that holds all these differences together.

I enjoy moving between styles because it brings depth and variety to my work, something not many artists explore. Many stay within a single direction, but I love stepping outside the expected and discovering new styles and genres. From something as small as a tube of lipstick to a complex artwork, everything seems to attract an opinion, and my pieces reflect that reality.

In the age of social media, where opinions constantly flood in, your art offers a critique of this phenomenon. How do you see the impact of social media on contemporary art, and how do your works communicate with the audience in this context?

Social media has made art more accessible. Almost everyone has at least one major platform, and artists now rely on these spaces to share their work. If someone likes a piece, they can immediately visit the artist’s website or subscribe to their newsletter to follow new releases. Even a simple like or a kind comment helps the algorithm and allows more people to discover the work.

For my art, social media keeps changing, and I intend to change with it. My goal is to keep adapting so the work stays relevant and continues to speak to those who engage with it.

The bold color palette you use is not just an aesthetic choice, but also a tool for highlighting your messages. How do the colors in your works contribute to conveying emotions and messages, and how do you choose which colors to use in each piece?

I do not have a favourite colour. I love them all equally. The colours I use are meant to be bold and immediately capture the viewer’s attention. I usually choose colours in three ways. Sometimes the idea itself suggests a colour and I follow what feels right. Other times I visit the paint store and let whatever shade catches my eye guide me. And there are moments when I start with a hue I am drawn to and build the entire painting around it.

I also pay attention to the names of paint colours. Once, while painting a birdcage, I was inspired by French culture and found a shade called French Blue. The name added meaning to the piece, so I used it. When the name of a colour aligns with the intention of the artwork, it becomes part of the story.

Every art form has the potential to inspire change, whether in individual perceptions or in a broader societal context. What do you consider the main message of your work, and how do you hope it will influence your audience, whether on social media or in galleries?

I want to push the boundaries of what people consider a painting to be. Many see art as either a painting or a sculpture, but my work brings elements of both together. I am curious to see how galleries will present me as someone who blends these forms.

Recently I have been thinking more deeply about the message behind my work. I often ask myself why I am so connected to these paintings and the speech bubbles that come with them. They have even become part of my business cards. I believe the core of my work speaks to the human psyche. When we are behind a screen, we feel shielded. What would we say to the person on the other side. I always try to remain polite and positive online, though unfortunately not everyone chooses that path.

A single random comment can do more than ruin a day. It can shape how someone feels about themselves. Viral phrases and trending opinions influence the way we communicate. One person says or does something, and many others follow. My work aims to question and explore this behaviour.

Derek’s work reminds us that art is more than an aesthetic experience. It can act as a space for critique, reflection and dialogue. In a world increasingly saturated with opinions, where social media shapes how we interpret reality, his art invites deeper introspection and encourages us to reconsider the role creativity plays in contemporary society. His bold approach to colour, style and technique shows that artistic expression has no limits, much like human imagination itself. We look forward to seeing where his journey leads next, as he continues to expand the boundaries of perception and creation.

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Photos by Derek Jackon