I’m fascinated by Time, Space, and Line

As an artist navigating through life, the external journey has always been a reflection of the internal journey, with me being the one who translates the in-between, the artist who is the conduit, the interpreter. 

My name is T. Jay Santa Ana and I’m an abstract surrealist. 

I paint and I draw from a place that is emotional at its core, colored by symbolism, and intrigued by the subconscious. Usually in my work there is a face that reminds me of my temporary humanity and fingers that point to other realities which have deeply impacted my art; parallel realities and several moments existing together side by side, simultaneously. 

I’m noticing more and more everyday that my art is the culmination of who I used to be, who I am now, and where I’ve been, punctuated by these very moments shared with both strangers and familiar faces.

I’m intoxicated by the conversations born from my art, how my work hanging on a wall will speak to someone before I even have a chance to. And when I finally do, I’m fascinated by their own interpretation of what I’ve created. It’s like our paths, our lines, were meant to cross at this point to breathe this conversation into life, admiring this intersection in time and space. 

All the people I’ve met, and all the different tools I use, are just a few points of inspiration when I’m creating. There are also important places to my practice which are instrumental to my art-making. I think it’s important to travel to and to create in places outside of your own comfort zone, outside of your own home, even. Because in the end I’m just traveling side by side with you, creating points of impact upon others along the way. Inevitably we pick up remnants of this journey to keep as souvenirs. So far these are mine.

Biography

T. Jay Santa Ana is a self-taught, multi-media artist and graphic designer. He was born in Quezon City, Manila, Philippines and soon left on the heels of the People Power Revolution. He and his family immigrated to the United States when he was one and a half years old, first settling in San Diego, California, then moving to Long Beach, and finally to Buena Park where he spent the rest of his childhood and adolescence. Upon graduating from high school in 2003, he returned to San Diego for university. He completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in English at San Diego State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Graphic Design at the Art Institute of California.

Having a career in the creative industry inspired him to return to his art in order to better express his own ideas and interpretations of life. He changed course from a graphic design position at a financing and technology company to pursue a career as an artist. Since then he has presented and participated in shows at various local San Diego venues, designed and hand-painted a handful of public art pieces, and co-curated an art exhibition in celebration of the release of his first sticker book, To the Ones That Stick. He is also the co-founder of Residencia Ranchito Aurora, an art residency in Tecate, B.C., Mexico. Currently his studio practice is in Barrio Logan, San Diego at the Art Hub.

Video Banner: Produced by Ablaze Production for Blk Box Gallery