JP / Jason Pereira

JP / Jason Pereira is a Artist and Muralist of Samoan descent (with a lil’ Portuguese!). Born and raised in Southern California where he resides with his wife and son. JP has been an artist his entire life. As a kid he found inspiration in his father’s architectural work, and discovered his love for island culture while living in American Samoa, attending summer youth cultural art workshops at the museum. As a teen and into adulthood, Jason’s creative interests gravitated towards graffiti art, but he always carried the artistry of his Pacific Island culture with him. Currently JP is the Artist-In-Residence at PIEAM (Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum) in downtown Long Beach. There he participates as an artist in ongoing exhibits, he also holds art workshops and student talks, as well as works on his own creative projects, graphic design and commissioned works.

It’s important to Jason to tell a story through his artwork. There’s always a story in what his pieces are about, what the creation process was, or even whatever drama or craziness that it took to get it done! Telling a story is innate to his culture as well as being essential to making a human connection with others. Because of JP’s influences from his Pacific Island, graffiti art and graphic design cultures, you’ll often find his style to be multi-layered, telling multi-stories, using multi-materials to make the works he creates.

Offered Piece: To The Eldest of My Memories, a vibrant visual narrative that honors his familiar lineage, this piece encourages the viewer to consider the braided cords that tie together our past, our present, and our future.

jaypzL@mac.com / @jpxinsta