Jerry Piper

Jerry Piper came from southern Illinois to Tulsa, OK in 1973. During his ten year stay in Tulsa, he began working for a small art gallery. Jerry is from a very creative and artistic family. His uncle was a fashion designer in Dallas, his mother is a master quilt maker. His sister is a jewelry and tie-dye artist who shows her work internationally. They are all musical on both sides. Jerry’s interest in art began at a young age, yet he went to a public school that offered no art classes from grades 1 – 12. That left him in a bit of a problem when he got to college and wanted to study art. He was advised against it by two guidance counsellors and told that he would not be able to compete against other students from cities and areas where art was taught from grade 1 on. The result was that Jerry chose the next best artistic path that he had more education, experience and development in. Music. Jerry quit school and became a published songwriter with one of Nashville’s top gospel music companies in his early twenties and spent his adult life in professional music singing and songwriting. He’s had over 40 of his original songs recorded by various artists throughout the years and continues to this day to sing and perform.

At a turning point in their lives, Jerry and his wife, Lonnie, moved from living in Amarillo, TX, back to Illinois and finished their degrees. This time, with a full-ride scholarship, Jerry decided it was time to study art, regardless of anyone’s reasons for him not to. It was exactly what he had hoped for, and for the first time, in this academic field, he spread his wings and began to fly. Jerry was a 2D art major at Eastern Illinois University and was mentored and nurtured by some outstanding professors. Upon graduation, Jerry became involved in various Fine Arts organizations where he presided as President of the Board of Directors, President of the Art Guild and entered many shows and exhibits, winning “Best of Show” and other awards, taught workshops, and engaged himself artistically in every way possible.

While showing traditional paintings at the Edward Bernard Gallery in Cape Girardeau, MO, Jerry was asked if he would do some contemporary abstracted work to show. Having never done that before, he took the challenge and started creating abstract expressionism pieces, and they began to sell. Eighteen years ago, Jerry and Lonnie moved to Oklahoma City, and it seemed that the world opened up to him as an artist. He became involved with various galleries throughout the city. His work offers a contemporary edge to traditional subject matter. Today, Jerry just finished a tenure as the First Vice-President of the MidDel Art Guild and worked as adjunct faculty at Rose State College teaching continuing adult education classes in painting. He also teaches classes as a volunteer at OKC’s “Healthy Living Center” in art and choral music.