We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jason Ray Perez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jason, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I live in South Texas, approximately 15 minutes away from the Mexican/American border. One of the most meaningful projects I ever worked on was a project with world renowned Artist Ron English, Banksy, and a hand picked group of Texas artists. The project was called “The Welcome Wall” and it was hosted by The National Butterfly Center in Mission, Texas. This was a project Ron had taken on after he had previously painted on the Berlin Wall and the separation wall dividing Israel and Palestine along side Banksy. Ron came to south Texas to basically protest immigration policy and government workers who were caught trespassing on property owned by the Center to clear land where the border wall is planned. The mural was a creative response to the potential environmental damage the wall could cause, especially to a 900-year-old Montezuma Cypress tree located on the Rio Grande flood plain, which would be on the Mexico side of the proposed barrier, along side endangered animals and plants located in the Rio GrandeValley flood plane.

The border wall that was going to cut through the National Butterfly Center was a barrier wall meant to exclude and divide, Ron invited us to help him paint a bold and vibrant Welcome Wall depicting colorful pop imagery of irreverence and unity in protest. The border wall was created to keep people out. Ron’s Welcome Wall was made to let people in. It was equipped with doors to let migrants in, and also had ample space underneath the panels to allow for the free migration of javelinas, Texas tortoises, bobcats and ocelots to their water source.

It was really amazing to work along side Ron, a group of talented Artists and possibly even Banksy ( I mean, there was a guy walking around with a mask on spray painting a Banksy stencil onto the wall lol), to benefit wildlife charities, indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations my community.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

A lil about myself… welp, I was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley. The Rio Grande Valley is a metropolitan areal, located in the deepest part of south Texas. It consists of 4 counties, the town I currently live in McAllen has a population of 148,000 residents and is approximatley 10-25 minutes away from the Mexican American border. The people here are extremely humble and identify deeply with their cultural roots.

You may have heard about our area in the news, not too long ago Elon Musk moved down here and built Starbase along our coast line in Boca Chica. That’s where he’s been doing all his rocket launch testing.

When it comes to art, I would say it started around 23 years ago, when I went to my very first art exhibit and got inspired to create. From the moment I walked into the building I was completely captivated by the people in attendance, the artists, the creativity, but more than anything the energy and vibe in general. I felt like I had finally found my tribe.

14 years ago I started to get really involved with the local art scene in the city i reside in. The City of Mcallen started a monthly event called The McAllen Artwalk. It was a free, monthly public event, held from September to May, that featured local artists, galleries, and businesses. It allowed the community to experience the city’s arts scene, with events sometimes taking place in the historic downtown arts district The event, typically occurred on the first Friday of the month and showcased a variety of art mediums, live music, and artisan vendors.

One of the businesses that allowed me to display my artwork on their walls during Artwalk, was a boutique craft beer garden and restaurant called “Roosevelt’s at 7”. Eventually one of the owners Rick Macias and I became close friends and he eventually gave me full reigns to do as I pleased with the walls of his restaurant. So, for the past 14 years I have been hosting monthly art exhibits every 1st Friday of the month for local and out of town artists, in an attempt to support the arts and keep the spirit of the Artwalk alive. Aside from Roosevelt’s at 7, from time to time I also curate exhibits for an upscaled art gallery I helped cofound called The Phoenix Art Gallery.

I’m a self taught artist. After painting for approximately 24 years, I feel like I’m barely developing and finding my true signature artistic style. So far in my carrier, I’ve had 3 gallery level solo exhibits (Alas De Mis Angeles, Illicit Visions, & Laconism), and have participated in numerous group exhibits both nationally and internationally. In 2017 several of my artworks were recognized by District 40 State of Texas Representative Terry Canales & were displayed in the Texas state capitol for several years. In 2019 I worked on a project at The National Butterfly Center In Mission, Texas, alongside world renowned artist Ron English and possibly Banksy called the welcome wall, which was an art installation in protest to President Trumps immigration policy.

In the present time I am submitting proposals to art galleries in San Antonio, Austin and Los Angeles, to display my latest works.

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

For me the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing the faces of admiration when people look at something I created with my soul and hands. I really get a kick out of seeing people reacting to my work when they view it. I’ve always said that the most devastating thing for an artist, is to see someone look at your work and just walk past it and dismiss it, without it touching them or drawing an emotion out of them in some way or form. Art is meant to draw feelings and move people, even if it’s in a negative way. Even if someone views your work and hates it, at least you’re drawing an emotion out of them. That’s a successful painting.

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

On April 2, 2023, I received the most devastating news any parent could ever receive in their life. I got word that my beautiful 24 year old daughter passed away in a motor vehicle collision. She is the inspiration behind everything that I do and everything that I create as an artist. I think twice about everything that I do and every choice that I make, because if it doesn’t honor her or her memory, I won’t do it. I try to do my best to live in her honor every single day. To view the world in a positive light in her honor. To create beauty in her honor. To be a better person in her honor. To be of service to others in her honor. To give 100% in everything that I do, in her honor. Even though she is no longer physically here with us, I know that she is with me spiritually, looking after me, and taking care of me. My Skyler will always be the driving force behind everything that I do in life and in my artistic carrier.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jperez_art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.perez.7311/