Kirkwood #1

Jaren Dahlstrom is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning artist hailing from California, who has dedicated over two decades to his “abstract reality” series of paintings. Born in San Francisco in 1945, Jaren has been immersed in the world of
drawing and painting since childhood. With an AA in fine art from Contra Costa College and a rich academic journey through Art Center College of Design, California College Arts and Crafts, and Cal State University Hayward, Jaren brings a wealth of artistic expertise to his creations. Inspired by the interplay of reflections and light on water, particularly from his upbringing near San Francisco, Jaren’s “abstract reality” paintings delve into the surrealistic realm. These fractured light paintings explore the concept of reflection generating abstract
images, resulting in surprising contrasts, intense colors, and familiar-yet-new compositions.
Employing computer manipulations to distort reflective photos, Jaren enhances the
abstraction, often introducing geometric shapes to these digitally transformed images. His meticulous process involves creating numerous iterations, sometimes exceeding 20, before achieving the desired result. The final touch involves producing a digital print, serving as the foundation for the completed painting.
Jaren’s artistic journey has been solo and group exhibitions, with his work finding a home in the permanent collections of the New York Folk Art Museum in New York City, NY. Jaren Dahlstrom continues to captivate audiences with his innovative approach to the intersection of art, light, and reflection