ARTIST BIO

Born in Russell, Kansas, Jason Voos grew up under the watchful eye of his grandfather who taught him the anatomy of painting people, sketching, wood burning, and whittling. While he enjoyed art, his passion remained with sports. As a talented athlete, he had a pending college baseball scholarship until playing football his senior year in high school when he sustained two consecutive head injuries which left him with double vision and in debillitating pain. Angry with his plight and unwilling to give into the pain, Jason began a vigorous study of art and computer generated special effects for video work. Jason's art became an outlet to express what his body felt and his way of seeing the world often through the lenses of the strongest pain relief medicines. An additional wave of tragedy struck in 2001 when Jason's father, grandfather, and uncle all died within months of each other. Jason's world was devastated in the absence of the three greatest men in his life. At odds with the world, Mother Nature sent him another blow shortly thereafter. As a major storm system rolled through Kansas with 6 active tornadoes, Jason grabbed his camera and rushed to his front lawn to capture the power, strength and chaos. His award winning photos were captured at a cost as he was struck by lightning, a strike which affects his neurology to this day. It was time to leave Kansas and start fresh, so Jason helped his mother pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and start over in California. It was as if life had finally found a happy balance for a couple years. But fate had one last surprise attack. Stopped in rush hour traffic on the I-5, Jason was hit by another car going 80 mph. The whiplash aggravated Jason's head injury and caused further damage to his spine and discs. With his compounding injuries, the doctors were unable to prescribe a treatment that helped Jason. At a very fragile 115 pounds, they threw in the towel, sent him home with hospice care and their prayers. Jason spent 9 months in bed as his mother nursed him back to life.

All of Jason's art tells a personal story of an inspirational man with great wit and humor, who refuses to give up even in midst of the greatest emotional and physical pain one could bear. With over thousands of pieces of art, including award winning plays and photos, this website contains only a fraction of his creations. He expresses the magical images his mind creates in Figments of My Imagination. He captures simplistic balance in his Abstracts. He highlights the beauty of life in his illustrations of People, Artistic Nudes, and Body Movement. His tenacity to fight for life is represented in the Warrior Within. He captures the simplicity and peacefulness found in nature in his Photography. Last, but not least, his unwavering belief in the God and the strength only found within can be found in Bearing the Cross and Inspiration.

Jason now lives in Las Vegas and is building a life with his fiancee. He found a naturopath doctor who has helped him get regain sensation he lost after the car accident. With his nerves becoming stronger, he will begin physical therapy soon to rebuild his muscle and return to a "normal" life. Between finding true love and beginning a new and stronger life, Jason expects his next round of art to capture new perspectives and a vision of great things to come.

ARTIST STATEMENT

"After many years of living with disabilities, I have learned to transform them into something beautiful. I hope to serve as an inspiration for others with disabilities, as we are only truly limited on the limits we place on ourselves. I am constantly processing observations in many perspectives, maintaining continuous discovery, undistorting information for a personal spiritual evolution that displays itself in my art. I create images reflecting my connection with the universe. Art is my form of meditation. My mediums are oil, digital, photography and the written word."

EXHIBITS AND AWARDS

Bronze Remi Award at Houston WorldFest for "Vern" - a biopic play about the life of his Grandfather

"Sunburst" exhibited at Union Station in Washington D.C.

"Dreamlike State" exhibited at Union Station in Washington D.C.

A stone sculpture created by Jason is on permanent display at the Smithsonian Institute

He has art on permanent display at the Pain Gallery in San Francisco, CA as well as art galleries in New York City, NY

Jason's art has been on display throughout the U.S. including Washington D.C., Miami, New York, and San Francisco; and across Europe including England and Spain

AFFILIATIONS

Jason is a contributing artist to VSA—The International Organization on Arts and Disability