Jackson is an artist based in Sydney, Australia.
Painting since childhood, it was ultimately the love of the Old Masters that drew him towards oil painting. During his formative years Jackson spent time studying the techniques and practices of these great painters to understand how painting “works”. However, after many years of doing this, he changed and realised that painting from the heart and with passion was more important to him than trying to replicate the Old Masters.
Painting as an expressive outlet has become central to Jackson’s practice and consequently his subjects are informed by his personal experience and memory. Working from this perspective imbues his work with a romance, occasionally a streak of humor as well as an undercurrent of melancholy. These subjects aren’t simply a documentation of Jackson’s surroundings, but rather an attempt to understand the world around him. It is this combination of his knowledge of the Old Masters and his personal experiences that influence his work.
Undeniably masculinity is a recurring theme in Jackson’s work. It is the oft misunderstood and paradoxical nature of masculinity that interests Jackson. Whilst there is an obvious queer element to his work, it isn’t the defining aspect to his paintings. Rather, a more general exploration of masculine passion, tenderness and vulnerability is more apt. Jackson isn’t interested in politicising masculinity, but rather producing imagery that presents masculinity, in all its awkwardness and beauty, in new ways.
Foundational to Jackson’s practice is his love for the plastic versatility of oil painting. A medium conducive for creating sensual imagery that provokes as well as its ability to emotionally resonate between the artist and viewer. It is this continual fascination of paint and creativity that ultimately keeps Jackson committed to developing his vision, and in some ways, this is just the beginning of his artistic journey.
Jackson has been a finalist in esteemed art prizes including the Doug Moran and Mosman Art Prizes, and in 2018 he was awarded Winner of the Northern Beaches Art Prize. Jackson has held residencies in Sweden and Portugal and his work appears in private collections around Australia, United Kingdom and France.