He graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA and then furthered his studies at Pratt Institute, Adelphi University and Stonybrook University.
He served in the Army Cops of Engineers painting murals and designing models, and later was employed designing and constructing displays in NYC department stores. He taught for 25 years in the East Islip public schools and also at Adelphi University.
He married and raised 5 children on the south shore of Long Island.
In the warmer months, the outdoors was his studio. The estuaries, bays and rivers of Long Island left their impression on him.
Gerry loved the green palette of summer but preferred painting in the fall. Starting in late October and early November he found the light more penetrating. “I can see the bones of things, the skeletons of trees.” To Gerry, the world was immeasurable. Every day was new.
“I can look at a scene over and over and never come up with the same painting.”
My aim is to create a feeling of freedom in my art with consideration for an underlying sense of strength and natural structure. I apply this philosophy to all my work – no matter the subject
Gerald Grace
Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia where he was awarded the highest honor of a
Scheidt Scholarship for study and travel in Europe in 1971.
He taught painting and drawing through the Division of Education at Philadelphia
Museum of Art before becoming co-owner, President and CEO of South Street Art
Supply Co. in Philadelphia.
He sold the business in 1986 and moved to the Eastern Shore, married, started a
family, and continued to paint and teach. Jack opened his studio-gallery in 2002;
Richardson Gallery in Onancock.
He currently resides in Richmond Virginia with his wife Christine and visits his studio
in Onancock monthly.
“For a number of years in my youth, I struggled to find myself or “my voice”, as the guru suggested. It never happened. So since I like the act of painting, I stopped looking and just did what I enjoy, which is seeing and making marks with paint. What you see here is what I do so I didn’t find my “voice”, it found me. Forty-five years later, I’m still making marks. My work is evolving by itself in the act of doing along with critical thinking. Some painting may seem unfinished, and that may be so, but they are complete; and if they hang around the studio long enough, they may be “finished” if and when the right solutions are arrived at.
Jack Richardson
