Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to JAW. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

JAW, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned how to make my hearts by doing a little bit of research on the necessary materials and then by trial and error. I had never used silicone as a mold making material before and while my first mold worked and was successful there are still things I am learning now that are making my molds last longer and function even better than before. I think the skill of mine that was most essential was my ability to just do it. I learn the best by just engaging the process and figuring it out along the way. The only obstacle that has slowed down my process is the financial one. While concrete is rather inexpensive all the other materials I use, silicone mold, pigment, spray paint and Lego are quite expensive and at times have forced me to take breaks when I run out of them.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jakobi and I go by name JAW, Jakobi Art Works. When it comes to my artwork I am primarily known for my concrete hearts I glue up in Seattle and surrounding communities. I chose the design of the heart because I wanted my design to be in a form everyone could recognize and connect with and that had an overall positive association. When I started making my hearts it was because I was inspired by the world famous street artist Space Invader. I love his video game and pop culture inspired mosaics and originally I started using small glass tiles in the same 8 bit style he does. Unfortunately those small glass tiles are also really expensive and after making just a few hearts using them realized that medium was not going to be sustainable. I then pivoted to using actual Lego because I just had them lying around. After making and putting up a few glued together Lego hearts I also realized using Lego was going to be even more expensive than the glass times. I knew I could not financially sustain using Lego repeatedly and somewhere along the way got the idea to make a mold of a Lego heart and them cast reproductions of it using concrete.

While I have a website that I sell my hearts on I primarily make them to put up in the streets. The website came around due to demand from Instagram followers who wanted a heart of their own since it is impossible to take one from the streets. The adhesive I use is really strong, it has to be since concrete is so heavy, and when people try to take one off the streets they break. I know a few people have taken them before the adhesive dries if they saw me put the heart up but that doesn’t happen very often. I usually install my heart very very early in the morning.

When it comes to clients I don’t really have many. I make my hearts for me and me only and if other people like them great. Like I mentioned I sell some of my work on my website due to followers requests for hearts and every once in a while I will make a heart in a specific color for a follower but that is about as custom as my work gets for people.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The mission of my creative journey is my own personal fulfillment as an artist, a sense of accomplishment that I get after putting my hearts up, seeing them evolve around the city from a newly installed heart to an old heart that is weathered and faded and chipped and the interactions I have with followers on Instagram.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is the feeling of accomplishment I get once a piece I am working on is complete. While my hearts get most of the attention I also work in wire and some of those sculptures can take weeks to complete.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jakobiartworks.com
• Instagram: @j.a.w

Image Credits

All images taken by JAW.