Jay Bell is a California painter, community leader, and advocate whose work explores the connections we share with history, land, and one another. Through vibrant color and form, he seeks universal points of engagement that foster dialogue and belonging. In addition to his studio practice, he is a founding member of the San Diego County Arts and Culture Commission and the founder of Campana Studios, a grassroots nonprofit supporting economic development, wage justice, and advocacy for artists. His dual role reflects a belief in the transformative power of art to strengthen communities.
SELECTED SOLO/GROUP EXHIBITS
2025-A Moveable Feast, Perspectives Space, Encinitas, CA
2024- A Time, Bermudez Projects, Los Angeles, CA
2023- Boundaries Edge, Techne Art Center, Oceanside, CA
2023-California Sentiment- Curated by Erin Page at Perspectives Space, Encinitas, CA
2022- Mini’s, Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA
2022- Collector’s Choice, Studio Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA
2021- Biennial, Cannon Art Gallery, Carlsbad, CA
2020- Landscapes of the Mind, First Floor Gallery, Santa Clarita, CA
2020-Regional Invitational, The Studio Door, San Diego, CA
2020- Bulletin Boards- Coffee Coffee Gallery, Leucadia, CA
2019- Partita II, Durden and Ray, Los Angeles, CA
2019- Promised Land Installation- LACC, Los Angeles, CA
2019- Gala, Art Share LA, Los Angeles, CA
2019- Wish You Were Here, A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2019- Artists Helping Artists, Hill Street Country Club, Oceanside, CA
2018- Journey, Hill Street Country Club, Oceanside, CA
2017- Recent Works, Tamayo Gallery, Los Angeles
1996- The Soho Annual, 420 West Broadway, NYC
1996- Exposed, Stowe, Vermont-1996
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cerys Davies, “The 10 Best Places to See Latino Art in Los Angeles”, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 10th 2025
Patty Booth-O’Neill, “LB Native “Promised Land Art Benefits LA Not for Profit”, The Link News, December 27, 2019
Tawney McCray, “Artists New Installation is a Comment on Lack of Art Spaces”, Coast News, December 20, 2019
Tawney McCray, “Artists New Installation is a Comment on Lack of Art Spaces”, Rancho Santa Fe News, December 20, 2019
Roberta Smith, “Culture and Commerce Live Side by Side in SoHo”, New York Times, September 13, 1996
EDUCATION
1996 Residency, Vermont Studio School, Johnson, VT
1996 BFA, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY
Jaybell2828@gmail.com
@jaybellart
Jay Bell 