History/Background - Jay Asquini, painter (b. US 1956)

Some might say that Jay Asquini became a painter accidentally. After all, it is true that he turned to painting only after surviving the life-altering ordeal of shattering his spine in a fall one fateful Sunday morning in 2001.

Asquini’s family history tells another story though, one of remarkable creative talent leading back to his maternal grandfather, William O. Block. Perhaps his most notable creative endeavor, Block began his nearly 40-year career in the auto industry as the first stylist Henry Ford ever hired.

The next artist in Asquini’s creative lineage is his mother, Betty Lou (Block) Asquini. A painter of fine equine and canine portraits, she has developed her own national following. Along the way, she also helped lay the groundwork for Asquini’s knowledge of painting, including composition and the use of color. Theirs was a home filled with independent spirit and original art.

Asquini’s formal career as an artist actually began in the 1980s, when he ventured into the world of commercial photography. Over the next 20 years, his ability to create dramatic images of industrial subjects earned him a reputation as the Industrial Strength photographer. Eventually, he came to be recognized as a national leader in the field of photography and was elected to numerous positions in the American Society of Media Photographers. He also produced seminars on photographic technique and business practices, presenting them all across the country.

Then, in 2001, shortly after Asquini began shifting his photographic work toward advertising and lifestyle subjects, his whole world came crashing down. Literally.

Asquini fell from a ladder while trimming a tree in his backyard –– and shattered his spine. In an effort to save his life and prevent any paralysis, doctors reinforced a large section of Asquini’s upper spine with titanium rods and screws. Given the extreme amount of damage that had occurred, their work was nothing short of miraculous. His recovery, while possible, would be a long, hard road.

Nearly a year later, while still recovering, Asquini picked up a brush at the insistence of a friend and was immediately captivated by the process. Though his new physical limitations severely restrict production, Asquini has found that he’s much better suited to the relaxed rhythm of painting than the strenuous pace of commercial photography.

Brimming with layer upon layer of colorful emotion, Jay Asquini’s courageous paintings focus on people in a refreshingly unconventional way. He delights in dreaming up complex stories and then employing dynamic brush strokes, bold color, and unusual points of view to bring his quirky cast of characters to life. Whether through quiet contemplation or a spirited conversation with a friend, you’re sure to find his stories an absolute pleasure to unravel. As Asquini is so fond of saying – Viva!

Critical Acclaim

“We’re really excited to have his work. There’s such vitality in it. It’s colorful.
It’s alive.”
– Tom Clark, Village Gallery

“He definitely has something to say and
it shows in his work.”
– Amy Swiney, Ave Maria Gallery

“His paintings are for people who would rather look at art than watch television. His work can sustain it. There’s that much feeling in it.”
– Scott Kozaruk, Progressive Art

“Jay Asquini has a visceral love for brush and paint. His paintings are rhapsodic, joyful.”
– Veronica Pasfield, Critic

• Self Embrace
• Skinny Dippers
• USA Aesthetic