Jakub Kukla, also known by his Czech nickname Kuba, is a painter of memories and emotions. With a wide range of subject matter, Kuba strives not only to capture the world around him, sharing his own memories, but to design his paintings to evoke feelings. When looking at Kuba’s work, one may be filled with a sense of peace, excitement, nostalgia, or even energy and inspiration. He believes that a work of art is more than just an image, but an artist’s way to share their soul with others.
Kuba’s work not only evokes memories and emotions but is often collaborative in nature. With a degree in Human Connection through Music, Language, and the Arts from the University of Redlands’ Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, he understands the importance discipline in one's craft, while not losing creativity or missing out on collaboration. Kuba loves people and is always striving to find ways to connect with others through his work. He is active in seeking out other artists and collaborates with many painters and musicians.
Whatever Kuba is painting, his goal is either to connect directly with his audience to help them create a memory or to evoke emotions that are hiding just beneath the surface.
He can often be found painting outdoors, during a music performance, at a festival, at a friend’s house, or with a visitor in his studio. His artwork celebrates life in all its beauty, craziness, and randomness. It inspires people to connect with their surrounding and inter child.
While Kuba works in many mediums and experiments with many styles including marble and porcelain sculpture, he primarily focuses on oil and acrylic paints. His style is lively and playful, sometimes impressionistic and abstract, while at other times fully representational and realistic.
While some artists choose one style and stick with it throughout their career in order to be the most marketable, Kuba has learned that many of them burn out and has consciously chosen to let the spirit move him in his work. He believes that whether he is painting portraits, landscapes, still lifes, or abstracts, it is the energy and intention that he puts into the work that is important and ultimately what makes or breaks a work of art.
Kuba loves to meet and engage with people of all ages and all walks of life, and as such believes that not all his work will speak to everyone, but everyone can find a work that speaks to them.
If you are ever in Portland, Oregon don't hesitate in reaching out to Kuba. He will be happy to invite you to his art studio, make you a cup of tea of offer you a drink and learn about you! There is nothing that makes him happier in life then connecting with a fellow human and hearing their story, so send him a message and start the connection today.
|| Galleries ||
Presently at Milieu Gallery Portland, Oregon
2019 Galería La Mano Mágica Oaxaca, Mexico
2019 Galería Ivonne Kennedy Oaxaca, Mexico
2019. Arte de Oaxaca, Galeria Oaxaca, Mexico
|| Solo Exhibitions ||
2022 Private Showing im=X Studio, Lake Oswego, Oregon
2021 Community Art New Seasons Market, Portland, Oregon
2021 Community Art New Seasons Market, Portland, Oregon
2020 Painting Spring Karma Bunny, Portland, Oregon
2019 Vistas de Oaxaca Chrisman Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2019 Walk in the Park Unicorn Brewing, Portland, Oregon
2019 Meditations on Red, White, and Blue Mia Arroz, San Augustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico
2018 A Walk Through Oaxaca Private Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2016 Faces of China Ugly Mug, Portland, Oregon
|| Group Exhibitions ||
2021 Infinite Connection Sellwood Community House, Portland, Oregon
2019 Inauguration Casa Murguia, Oaxaca, Mexico
2019 Featured Local Artists Chrisman Gallery, Portland, Oregon
2018 Arbol de Mezquite Galeria Caballero, Oaxaca City, Mexico
2017 画画&展览开幕 Urban Cross, Shanghai, China
2017 Big Easter Fest Marco Polo, Changzhou, China
2014 Johnston Art Show University of Redlands, California
|| Installations ||
2021 In a Landscape Guest Artist Sumpter, Oregon
2017 Flamingos 52 Sky Restaurant, Changzhou, China
|| Education ||
2019 Figurative Art Convention & Expo Williamsburg, VA. USA
2018 Plein air Art Convention & Expo San Francisco, CA. USA
2014 BA, Human Connection: Music, Language, and the Arts. University of Redlands, CA. USA