Jerry Puryear was born in Arlington, Virginia, and fell in love with art early in his life because his father too was an artist. As early as elementary school, his teachers noticed that he was a talented artist which lead him to attend various art schools such as the Corcoran School of Arts and Design in Washington, DC.
Art and education are two of Jerry’s greatest passions in life. This lead him to St. Joseph’s University where he majored in Fine Arts and Education. Through art he strives to document and incorporate his own personal experiences, to capture principles and concepts concerning life.
Jerry shares the gift of art by marrying the technical skills that he acquired during his educational studies as well as his 15+ years as the Resident Artist for the Fine Art Through Our Eyes (FATOE) program teaching art throughout the community of Philadelphia to foster a sense of art appreciation in all that he comes in contact with to stimulate, inspire and motivate others to be the best versions of themselves and tap into their inner creativity.
Jerry believes that art is a means of expressing concepts, ideas and views in order to tell a story. His goal is to tell his story through art and inspire others to do the same. This exchange goes both ways. As Jerry teaches and pours into his students from various walks of life, young or old, sick or healthy, he is not only inspired by the artistic advancements of those that he serves but the emotional and even mental breakthroughs that unfold.
Jerry has an extensive collection of works that expands into a variety of art genres from portraits, landscapes, to abstracts and every piece is truly mixed media and oftentimes incorporates found objects. His message is deeply rooted in Christianity, themes and symbols are ever-present with an emphasis on color psychology.
Jerry has shown his work in both solo and group shows in various establishments such as the James Oliver Gallery, Saint Joseph’s University and Philadelphia’s City Hall to name a few.
Jerry Puryear is not only an Artist but also teaches Art as well. He focuses on telling the personal narrative with an emphasis on healing through expression.
