Jason Michael Bentley

Jason was born in Urbana IL., in 1978. He took interest in drawing and the martial arts at a young age. Early foundations in copying cartoons and comic books later matured into more classical approaches with charcoal, watercolor, gouache, and oils. After acquiring a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and earning an AFA and BFA from Parkland College and the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign respectively, Jason spent the summer of 2002 in Korea and Japan to learn directly from some of the asian cultures he admired. Armed with a backpack and a sketchbook, Jason spent entire days traversing the streets and parks of Soul, Osaka, and Tokyo - journaling/reflecting on the people he met and other colorful experiences while resting in the capsule hotels he found along the way. Upon returning to the States, Jason worked as a graphic designer, freelancer, and Tae Kwon Do instructor. In 2014, he moved to Chicago to focus on his painting career, and currently works as a commissioned portrait painter, exhibiting artist, and teacher.


On technique:
I am often moved to make an impression of what is beautiful and graceful. The simple aspects of applying a mark on paper or canvas is a joy, but working with a suite of marks that eve...

AFA 2000
Degree in Fine Arts at Parkland Community College in Champaign.

BFA 2002
Degree in Graphic Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

CURRENT REPRESENTATION AND EXHIBITIONS

Sacred Art
4619 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 728-2803

Gallery 1070
1070 W. Granville Avenue
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 878-9004




SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2017
Private Exhibition | Secret Wine Cellar, Chicago IL.

2016
Depictions | Radio Maria, Champaign IL.
Selected Works | Sacred Art, Lincoln Square, Chicago IL. 

2015
Selected Works | Village Tap, Roscoe Village, Chicago IL.
Selected Works | Glenwood Arts Festival, Rogers Park, Chicago IL.
Crown—An Exhibition of The Mystery and Adoration of Women | Mezz Gallery at Mayne Stage, Rogers Park, Chicago IL.

2012
To Hear and To See | Independent Media Center, Urbana IL.
Traces of Grace | Indi Go Gallery, Champaign IL.



SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2016
Figuring It Out | Studio Oh!, Chicago IL.
Annual Alumni Exhibition | Giertz Gallery, Champaign IL.

2015
Staff Show | Mezz Gallery at Mayne Stage, Rogers Park, Chicago IL.
Water Media, a show of new paintings by 17 local painters | Cinema Gallery, Urbana IL.

2013
Selected Works | Weekend House Gallery, Mahomet IL.
PopArt, The Mycelia Project | Chicago State University, Chicago IL.