Daily Inspiration: Meet Jon Sedor

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon Sedor. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Jon Sedor was born in Cleveland, Ohio in May 1988. Ever since he got involved with skateboarding, BMX, and graffiti culture when he was 13, art became a fascination. It was not until high school that art became a serious pursuit as a career. A week before Jon graduated high school, in May 2007, he had a serious accident and his dominant hand (left hand) was unfortunately amputated. He underwent two amputations and three surgeries. Jon never gave up on his dreams – he now creates and lives as a right-handed person. 

In the fall of 2007, Jon attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York as a studio art major. He graduated in the spring of 2011 as a studio art major (concentrating in Graphic Design and Drawing) with an art history minor. Immediately after Jon graduated from Skidmore College, he entered the Prior Degree Program (similar to a post-baccalaureate program) at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). SAIC introduced Jon to the more conceptual side of Contemporary Art, allowing him to understand better why he creates art and what it means to him. In the Fall of 2012, Jon moved to Brooklyn and entered the MFA Fine Arts program at the School of Visual Art (SVA) to further develop his ideas regarding his personal creation and work. Jon graduated from SVA in May 2014 with his MFA. 

Jon is a professional painter, illustrator, and budding tattoo artist who works in his studio in the Midtown/Superior neighborhood in Cleveland. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been struggles along the way, especially having to switch hands 12 weeks before going to college for art, however, I can’t imagine doing anything else. My journey, thus far, informs my work and at times has pushed me to produce as a way to find freedom in the chaotic time we live in. I can honestly say that painting and tattooing (more recently) has saved my life. I do not know where I would be or what I would be doing if graffiti and skateboarding did not become a part of my life as a teenager – these subcultures helped mold me into the person I am today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
This is kind of a tough question, I’d say I specialize in graphic, surreal, and illustrative mixed media pieces on paper or canvas drop cloth. I work at times on a small scale and other times I’m painting murals or working on large canvas drop cloths. I have a lot of creative influences so I do a lot, from hand lettering, to shirt graphics to hand-poking tattoos. I like switching up what I’m doing; it keeps me interested and learning new things that I can apply to other mediums or projects. I’m not sure I’m known for anything, but if I am I would be known for my painting.

I believe what sets me apart from other artists is my recent body of work that is heavily influenced from Byzantine iconography to neo-traditional tattoo colors, skateboard graphics, and surrealism. My painting is intuitive. I start with an idea and it builds from there. Each piece has meaning, however, it’s not necessary for the viewer to know what exactly that is. When art, in general, hand feeds the viewer the “answer” to a piece, in my opinion, it causes the viewer to move on quickly. I want people to look and to come up with their own story in my work. I think of it as a window into a different world.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am always open to freelance projects and collaboration with other artists! I have primarily worked in the surf and outdoor industries; however, it’s always been a dream to work with skate and snowboard companies – board designs are a huge part of how I realized I could make illustration and painting my career. My original work is always for sale unless otherwise stated, and it’s been cool that I have had people reach out and pay me for my original paintings. I’m thinking of creating prints too (as a more affordable option), however, that will be a project for this winter! I will be tattooing more going forward so that’s another way to support my creative endeavors if a person wants their body to be a canvas for original work. 

Contact Info:

• Email: jon.sedor@gmail.com
• Website: www.jonsedor.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampedjon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jon.sedor.5/

Image Credits
Allison Lupica
Stamy Paul