Darren Jackson

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Darren Jackson is the sixth of seven children. He was educated in the public school system. Growing up in the inner city had a profound effect on him. His exposure to poverty, crime, and violence including the brutal murder of his father, lead to his introversion. "I felt comfortable drawing my experiences instead of talking about them", said Darren. Anytime there was an opportunity to escape the harsh realities of that environment, he would visit family and friends outside of the city limits just to enjoy the great outdoors and to sketch. During high school is when Darren developed a passion for painting. Several teachers noticed his potential and tried to encourage him to pursue a career in art, however, he chose a career in Health Care Sciences with the U.S. Air Force. It wasn't until a few years later that his interest in art was refueled. After a visit to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C., he was so moved by the exhibition he immediately began taking classes and private lessons to gain knowledge about the art community.

Darren Jackson is an oil painter who loves to create biomorphic figures to express his personal perspective on the human condition. Vibrant colors that are often used straight from the tube, complex movement, and lots of texture are some of the key element to his artworks. Although he has some formal training, his style of abstract expressionism has evolved from many years of exploring different techniques and by observing his favorite contemporary artists. Sculptor Aguste Rodin and "Masters of Illusions", such as M.C. Escher and Sandro Del Prete are major influences to him.

In November 2003, Darren's talent was recognized by the public when one of his oil paintings was accepted into a contest called "To Extremes: A Show of Heightened Realism and Pure Abstraction", and then exhibited at the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, Maryland. In May 2008, one of his pieces was selected by a national jury for the "Re.action" exhibition, at Annmarie Garden in Solomons, Maryland. Darren is a member of the Prince George's Artists Association of Maryland and is now showcasing his engaging artworks for the world to enjoy. Darren hopes to"arouse the viewer's imagination and to observe life from a different perspective".