Works that I have completed recently, based on fantastic ideas.

Select portion of portrait and figure studies that I found interesting.

Ink & Acrylic on Canvas.  60" x 30".

Galerie Myrtis is honored to present Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, a compelling new body of work by Jerrell Gibbs that challenges historically ingrained biases within the world of ballet. Through his evocative paintings, Gibbs interrogates the exclusionary ideals that have long shaped the art form, particularly the rigid standards of physicality that continue to limit access to dancers based on appearance rather than ability.
 
By centering Black ballet dancers in his compositions, Gibbs redefines the visual narrative of ballet, shifting the focus from Eurocentric ideals of form to the undeniable brilliance, technique, and resilience of these performers. He highlights the persistent body shaming and prejudice in the field, which continue in many institutions.

Gibbs’ work finds kinship with the artistic legacy of Edgar Degas, whose groundbreaking sculpture Little Dancer Aged Fourteen once challenged 19th-century notions of beauty and class. Just as Degas disrupted the status quo of his time, Gibbs offers a new perspective—one that insists on inclusion and recognition for dancers who have been historically overlooked.
 
In Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Gibbs invites us to question ingrained aesthetic norms and imagine a ballet world where excellence is measured by artistry and technique rather than outdated, exclusionary ideals. Through this body of work, he fosters a necessary dialogue—one that reclaims space, celebrates Black dancers, and affirms that ballet belongs to all who dedicate themselves to its craft.
 

For this piece I cut newspapers into strips of 3 different heights and rolled each to fit into the fencing. Starting with one torso made entirely of newspaper, I then gradually added gray felt to the rest of the torsos.

I chose felt as it is made from matting and condensing separate fibers into one – similar to how news is, at times, shared. Hopefully, in the process, we don’t end up too far from the truth.      

For this piece I cut newspapers into strips of 3 different heights and rolled each to fit into the fencing. Starting with one torso made entirely of newspaper, I then gradually added gray felt to the rest of the torsos.

I chose felt as it is made from matting and condensing separate fibers into one – similar to how news is, at times, shared. Hopefully, in the process, we don’t end up too far from the truth.      

Ink / Acrylic on Arches.  30" x 22".

Proposal for an installation. Framed mixed media collage and four solvent transfers on paper bags. Approximately 36 x 36 x 2 inches

Some of the commercial work I've done for clients.