Artist Statement
Jay Wat and SumerGnosis are two creative identities of the same artist, Justin O’Dell. Jay Wat represents my physical art practice, including paintings, drawings, and works on paper, emphasizing material presence, mark-making, and the exploration of abstraction, landscape, and the human figure. SumerGnosis represents my digital and time-based work, including visual art videos, digital stills, and audio-reactive pieces that translate music, rhythm, and frequency into responsive visual experiences. Some SumerGnosis works incorporate elements of Jay Wat’s physical artworks, creating a dialogue between traditional and digital media. Together, these identities reflect a single, cohesive multidisciplinary practice, uniting physical and digital expression under one artistic vision while allowing each medium to maintain its distinct focus.
Jay Wat (Justin O'Dell)
Under the name Jay Wat, I create paintings, drawings, and works on paper that explore abstraction, landscape, and the human figure. These works emphasize disciplined mark-making, compositional rigor, and material presence, reflecting a practice grounded in direct, human craftsmanship. Through each piece, I investigate perception, form, and the expressive potential of line, color, and structure.
SumerGnosis (Justin O’Dell)
As SumerGnosis, I develop digital and time-based art, including digital stills, immersive video, and audio-reactive works. This work is conceptually linked to my music project of the same name, where compositions serve as both sonic material and inspiration for responsive visuals. The pieces translate rhythm, frequency, and tonal dynamics into visual form, extending principles of perception, structure, and energy from my fine art into dynamic, multimedia experiences. Across all works, the practice engages viewers in a dialogue between observation, intuition, and immersive perception, rendering intangible qualities of consciousness into tangible, sensory experiences.
Full Visual Art Artist Statement
I first began experimenting with fluorescent ink gel pens in high school, drawn to the magic of blacklight art and its ability to make a piece feel almost alive. Early on, art was a hobby — a passion I didn’t yet realize would become a lifeline. Three years ago, life’s challenges brought me to a breaking point. A severe manic episode led to a hospital stay and a diagnosis of Bipolar 1 with psychosis. Picking up a paintbrush became a form of therapy, and I fell in love with UV acrylics on canvas.
Jay Wat (Justin O'Dell)
Under the name Jay Wat, I create paintings, drawings, and works on paper that explore abstraction, landscape, and the human figure. My process begins without a predetermined plan: layers of color, texture, and form emerge through intuitive mark-making. Blacklight and UV techniques add dimension, reflecting both aesthetic intention and the duality of lived experience. These works investigate perception, form, and expressive potential while conveying messages of empathy and connection for those navigating mental health challenges.
SumerGnosis (Justin O’Dell)
As SumerGnosis, I extend these explorations into digital and time-based media, including digital stills, visual art videos, and audio-reactive works. Some pieces incorporate imagery from Jay Wat’s artworks, recontextualizing physical compositions within dynamic, music-driven visuals. The name SumerGnosis is also tied to my music project, integrating sonic material as both inspiration and medium. These works investigate the translation of rhythm, frequency, and tonal energy into visual form, engaging viewers in immersive experiences that merge sound, motion, and perception.
Together, these practices form a multidisciplinary investigation of perception, energy, and creative expression — bridging physical and digital media, painting and video, intuition and structure — while inviting viewers into immersive experiences that are both personal and universal.