Jeff Bye is a graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design and was selected to attend a year abroad in Rome, Italy as part of the EHP Program. There, he was exposed to the great masters of art through Museums in London, Paris, Madrid and Rome. Soon after, he moved to New York City and studied at The New York Academy of Art and received a Master of Fine Arts in Painting.
Jeff is a member of The Copley Society of Boston and was awarded the Copley Master, the youngest ever to receive this honor. His work is showcased across the Northeast and has been awarded numerous times.
At a time when clean and new are very welcomed by most, my eyes are drawn to the ugly beautiful; the spaces that have character and a reflection of the past. Time is often dismissed in these spaces. It’s a quietness that transcends to the viewer. A moment of stillness that is powered by the light, the structural elements of the spaces, and the additional props and color palette also contribute. I find that these images have an energy that needs time to adjust. These paintings need the full attention of the viewer so that the time and space around it can truly breathe so the raw patinas and textures that give the painting balance can begin to be appreciated
