JAMES "JAY P" PRESTON

Baltimore based painter and muralist, James “Jay P” Preston, discovered his love for art at an early age.  Jay P enrolled in multiple art programs throughout the city, including the T.W.I.G.S Program at the Baltimore School for the Arts. After receiving an International Baccalaureate Certificate in Visual Arts in high school, Jay P found it fitting to further sharpen his skills at Morgan State University, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 2004.

 

Jay P finds inspiration for his artwork in the vibrance of Black Culture. His focus is largely on portraiture, depicting muses from the music industry, leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and sports icons.  James loves the challenge of using acrylic based paint to create beautiful detail and texture in his work.

 

In 2017 Jay P stepped into the curator realm, coordinating multiple collaborative artist events with the Lord Baltimore Hotel and venues along Washington DC’s electric H Street Corridor.  He has since added mural work to his resume.  Bringing his talents full circle, Jay P has painted murals in several locations in Baltimore City, including the William S. Baer School and Baltimore City School Headquarters Office of Enrollment Choice and Transfers. In 2022 he collaborated to complete a large scale mural at the KIPP AMP Academy in Brooklyn, NY.  He hopes his work positively showcases the uniqueness of Black Culture and it’s influences globally.