Jakub Kukla, also known by his Czech nickname Kuba, is an international artist. While Jakub works in many mediums and experiments with many styles, including marble and porcelain sculpture, he primarily focuses on oil and acrylic painting. His style is lively and playful, sometimes impressionistic and abstract, while at other times fully representational and realistic. When looking at Jakub’s work, one may be filled with a sense of peace, excitement, nostalgia, curiosity or even energy and inspiration.
Painting outdoors, during a music performance, at a festival, a friend’s house, with a visitor in his studio, or in another country is where you can find Jakub. His artwork celebrates life in all its beauty, craziness, and randomness. He hopes to inspire people to connect with their surroundings and their inter child.
Born in Portland, Oregon to Immigrant parents from Czechoslovakia, Jakub has also lived in the Czech Republic, Oaxaca, Mexco and Changzhou, China. Having visited more than 30 countries in his life, Traveling has hugely influenced his world view and art.
Jakub graduated from Gymnazium Jana Palacha in Prague before returning to the US to attend the Univeristy of Redlands, in California. There he studied oil painting under Ben Bridgers, life drawing under Terry Long, and acrylics under Angela Wilcox. His education, however, included much more then just the technical aspect of being an artist. During his university years, he studied globalization, toursim and development as well as print making in Oaxaca, Mexico. He traveled to Dharmasala, India to interview His Holiness the 17th Karmapa with a small group of students; a trip that lead to the publication of The Heart is Noble. He sang in Carnegie Hall in New York City with his choir, raised pigs with left overs from the University Commons to raise awareness about food waste, developed and taught an Intro to Czech course, and taught kids art and music at nonprofit Music Changing Lives. Jakub graduated from the Johnston Center of Integrative Studies with a BA in Human Connection: Music, Language, and the Arts. If you are interested in learning more about his education, you can watch his graduation review here.
Are you interested in collaborating with Jakub? He loves people and is always striving to find ways to connect with others through his work. He is actively seeking out other artists and enjoys collaborating with painters and musicians both locally and abroad.
Don't hesitate in reaching out to Jakub. He will be happy to invite you to his art studio in Portland, Oregon. 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 ||
Current Milieu Gallery Portland, Oregon
Current Cannon Beach Arts Association & Cannon Beach Gallery Cannon Beach, Oregon
2019 Galería La Mano Mágica Oaxaca, Mexico
2019 Galería Ivonne Kennedy Oaxaca, México
2019 Arte de Oaxaca, Galeria Oaxaca, México
2019 Galeria de Alexis Escobar 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 Agustin Etla, 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 & Performance ||
2021 In a Landscape Guest Artist Sumpter, Oregon
2017 Flamingos 52 Sky Restaurant, Changzhou, China
|| Experience ||
Artist Residency: Oaxaca, Mexico 2018-2019
Art Director: Music Changes Lives, Inc. 2011 - 2013
|| Education ||
2014 B.A. Human Connection: Music, Language,the Arts University of Redlands, CA
2018 Plein air Art Convention & Expo San Francisco, CA
2019 Figurative Art Convention & Expo Williamsburg, VA