Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jordan Garelick. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jordan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
My artistic journey began at a very young age, deeply influenced by my mother, an artist who served on the board of directors at the Art Students League of Denver. Her practice—working with charcoal, chalk, pastel, and oil paint—shaped my early exposure to art and laid the foundation for my technique and creative outlook.
Although I always felt a strong pull toward art, it wasn’t until attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago that this passion truly solidified and became a career reality. The competitive environment was initially overwhelming, but it pushed me to grow both technically and personally.
It was after returning to my hometown of Denver, post-college, that I began to fully integrate what I had learned—both in craft and in understanding the broader art world—into a mature, material practice. Interestingly, it wasn’t just the academic experience that shaped me, but also the community. Being surrounded by talented, expressive queer artists during a formative time in my own identity gave me profound inspiration. That intersection of queerness and creativity continues to drive my work today.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m an artist from Denver, Colorado, working primarily in oil paint, charcoal, chalk, and pastel. After studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, I returned home in 2022 to continue developing my practice.
My work ranges from intimate drawings to large-scale paintings, exploring themes of movement, cycles, memory, and storytelling. Much of my imagery emerges from an unconscious, intuitive space, guided by play, whimsy, and a strong sense of spirituality. I aim to create work that invites quiet reflection—a space for peace, contemplation, and emotional connection.
Using bold lines and symbolic figures like animals, people, and homes, I build visual narratives that feel both familiar and abstract. Layers of color, light, and shadow obscure and complicate these scenes, encouraging viewers to slow down and engage deeply with the work. I want the experience to be meditative—something you sit with, not something easily consumed.
As a queer trans person, my identity deeply informs my art. Through my practice, I explore meaning, connection, and self-understanding, and I hope to offer that same sense of discovery to those who engage with my work.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I believe a truly creative and thriving society begins with supporting its most vulnerable members—those who are mistreated or marginalized. Everyone has the potential for creativity, but without basic needs like safety, food, shelter, and access to resources, that potential can’t be realized.
While I want to support myself as an artist, my deeper goal is to use my work to uplift others. I believe spaces where people—especially people of color, queer, trans, and Indigenous communities—can come together in support and solidarity are where creativity and humanity truly thrive.
Supporting artists means supporting people. The work to build a better world for creatives is the same work needed to build a better world for all. Through my practice and career, I hope to contribute to that vision.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I believe a truly creative and thriving society begins with supporting its most vulnerable members—those who are mistreated or marginalized. Everyone has the potential for creativity, but without basic needs like safety, food, shelter, and access to resources, that potential can’t be realized.
While I want to support myself as an artist, my deeper goal is to use my work to uplift others. I believe spaces where people—especially people of color, queer, trans, and Indigenous communities—can come together in support and solidarity are where creativity and humanity truly thrive.
Supporting artists means supporting people. The work to build a better world for creatives is the same work needed to build a better world for all. Through my practice and career, I hope to contribute to that vision.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jordangarelickart.com
- Instagram: jordangarelick2000
