Hi Ben, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My success as a Fine Artist is truly an evolution…..Every single painting I have done has a message at the core; and my advocacy is at the forefront of these messages. The practice of rendering the physicality of the paint into true evocations of love, freedom and light echoes the transformation of pain into joy that the release of my artistic expression has made possible. This release of emotion through painting is a conduit for my own personal healing, and I believe that a person’s trauma does not define them, but is vital to their human experience and holds the potential for the great metamorphosis possible in all people.
Suffering my own traumas in the 1960’s, I endured decades of emotional abuse, harassment and marginalization due to my sexual orientation and ultimately found solace in my own metamorphosis into Jumper Maybach in 2010, where I was able to channel my trauma into a vehicle for not only personal release but advocacy for universal love, unconditional acceptance and the freedom to be who we are. The duality of my personas adds a level of complexity to my paintings that speak to the nuances of self-acceptance. My works allow my Collectors and the viewer to step into the world that healing from past traumas builds: a world of tolerance, peace and freedom in one’s own authenticity. I loudly and unabashedly advocate for an end to bullying and a return to altruism of childhood, where light prevails over darkness tred and kindness rules in organized and beautiful chaos. As it translates into my artworks, and my luxury home design and apparel; they illustrate that chaos, explosive color and the abandonment of form can be the visualization of the breakdown of past traumas and self-hate and express to the world that true freedom is found in this chaos. From there, I have rebuilt my world with the thundering call to end hatred, bullying and intolerance; and to live in the light. For me: that is truly the definition of resilience.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Renowned Fine Artist Jumper Maybach® and Kromara® Candles have set the world on fire with the launch of the first Color Changing candle inspired by Fine Art. This luxury item, the latest addition to the magnificent Jumper Maybach Home Collection is a ground-breaking partnership between celebrity fine artist Jumper Maybach and Kromara. Inspired by the original Jumper Maybach artwork series “Aliens” and combined with Kromara’s proprietary color change technology, Colorsine®, the new Limited-Edition Jumper Maybach® Collection features three of the company’s premium custom blended colors and fragrances thoughtfully inspired and fully wrapped in the extraordinary artwork of Jumper Maybach. Dubbed the Jackson Pollock of the 21st century, Jumper’s constant evolution of color and bold mixing of techniques is the artist’s unique and vivid way of expressing freedom, love, and acceptance. Every stroke of the brush, application of paint and product design that emerges is a true work of art—and every piece of art. stands against hate, bullying and intolerance in the world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Every experience I have had in my life has led me to my chosen vocation as a Fine Artist and Creative Director and has enabled my aesthetic vision to fully take shape. That which has defined me as an individual has truly and unquestionably defined my art; providing a release for both my joy as well as my pain.
The three skills that have most impacted my life long journey are evident in my artistry: Living your passion: Ensuring your words match your actions: and having a strong moral compass and showing kindness. These are key, and I encourage these life skills to all young people I encounter. I have become the storyteller of all: the chronicler of life as I see it… as it unfurls in my own head and consequently in my fine art and in my luxury brand creations. I am a self-taught Artist, and over many years and through intense maturation my artwork has evolved and has led to what I feel is an extraordinary body of work.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
As I maintain each and every day: My art has allowed me to live my vision and I am beyond grateful.
So the question posed who was most helpful to me in helping me build my skills and my qualities to be successful?
Slam Dunk question for me. I am an Artist. I am also the Artistic & Creative Director of a major luxury Brand; all of which are inspired by my artworks. So…my inspiration? I get to get up each day and do what I love. Collectors see my work every day in their living and workspaces.
In my early childhood, my grandfather, who was a professional clown, had a profound effect upon me and in many ways influenced my future career as a Painter. At four he gave me the nickname “Jumper” and it was a sort of “alter-ego” and safe place “world” in which I could just be me. You can see the amazing story in a documentary about my life entitled “The Jumper Maybach Story”.
The world was just ready for my message and the core belief in a compassionate society devoid of hatred, bullying and intolerance. When I see my artwork is can be found in exceptional collections worldwide and is the cornerstone of a Museum installation…that….inspires me every single second of every single day.
Each and every time I pick up my brush I strive for a constant evolution of color and complete abandonment of the paint. It is an unplanned performance that create the extraordinary works.
