NCI ARTworks hosted an opening reception for the month-long exhibition of art by award-winning artists Matt Jagitsch and Ryan Jandrey on May 9 at the NCI ARTworks Gallery from 6 to 8pm.
Matt Jagitsch—Award-winning national and international artist Matt Jagitsch grew up in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he discovered his love of art and found himself using it as an escape into a world of fantasy and interpretation. Thanks in part to teachers who taught him that art was a legitimate pursuit and possible career path, his love of art grew throughout middle and high school, and eventually he earned a degree from Eastern Illinois University in the early 90s, where he was a two-dimensional studio major with an art history minor. After graduation he took a non-art related job, and time spent with a pencil or brush began to drift away until it stopped. It wasn’t until the Covid shutdown 28 years later that he began to draw again, when his wife encouraged him to find something to occupy his newfound spare time. Within a month he had begun working with white pencil on black paper, a medium used once when he was 14 under the guidance of a middle school art teacher. He now works exclusively in this medium and has completed over 300 pieces in the last 3 years. While Matt has worked with many different reference genres; portraiture of both human and wildlife has been his primary work.
Jagitsch has shown live throughout northern and central Illinois as well as nationally and internationally in online exhibits. A few of his awards include 2021 Best in Show winner at the Grand Detour Arts Festival, and three consecutive years Best in Show winner of the Dixon IL Phidian Art Show in 2022, 23 and 24. He is delighted to be returning to NCIArtworks, where he had his first solo show in 2022.
Ryan Jandrey--Ryan is a charcoal and graphite artist born and raised in Dixon and specializing in classical portraiture and the human form. He developed an interest in all things art related at an early age but eventually put down his pencils to pursue other interests before picking them back up again at 28 years old in an attempt to rekindle the old flame. Though he has received no formal art training, Ryan considers himself a life-long student of art and is constantly studying form, structure, light, and shadow in an attempt to better convey 3D forms on a 2D surface. Ryan’s background as a personal trainer and massage therapist has granted him a solid understanding of the underlying anatomy of the human form. He is drawn to black and white mediums like charcoal and graphite for their simplicity and potential to convey the contrast between light and shadow in a visually striking way. Ryan accepts commission work.
The work of both talented artists will be available throughout the month of May. The opening reception will take place at the NCIARTworks Gallery on May 9th from 6 to 8pm; it is free and all are welcome. A private viewing of the exhibit can be arranged any time by emailing [email protected].
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NCI ARTworks is a regional arts agency, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and expanding the arts community in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties through artistic collaboration, educational outreach, and art space development. Its mission also is to create venues that support public and private education, community events, economic development, and cultural tourism. NCI ARTworks Gallery is located at 400 5th Street in Peru, in the west wing of the Westclox building. The organization is supported, in part, by the Illinois Arts Council Agency. For more information visit www.nciartworks.com.
Matt Jagitsch—Award-winning national and international artist Matt Jagitsch grew up in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he discovered his love of art and found himself using it as an escape into a world of fantasy and interpretation. Thanks in part to teachers who taught him that art was a legitimate pursuit and possible career path, his love of art grew throughout middle and high school, and eventually he earned a degree from Eastern Illinois University in the early 90s, where he was a two-dimensional studio major with an art history minor. After graduation he took a non-art related job, and time spent with a pencil or brush began to drift away until it stopped. It wasn’t until the Covid shutdown 28 years later that he began to draw again, when his wife encouraged him to find something to occupy his newfound spare time. Within a month he had begun working with white pencil on black paper, a medium used once when he was 14 under the guidance of a middle school art teacher. He now works exclusively in this medium and has completed over 300 pieces in the last 3 years. While Matt has worked with many different reference genres; portraiture of both human and wildlife has been his primary work.
Jagitsch has shown live throughout northern and central Illinois as well as nationally and internationally in online exhibits. A few of his awards include 2021 Best in Show winner at the Grand Detour Arts Festival, and three consecutive years Best in Show winner of the Dixon IL Phidian Art Show in 2022, 23 and 24. He is delighted to be returning to NCIArtworks, where he had his first solo show in 2022.
Ryan Jandrey--Ryan is a charcoal and graphite artist born and raised in Dixon and specializing in classical portraiture and the human form. He developed an interest in all things art related at an early age but eventually put down his pencils to pursue other interests before picking them back up again at 28 years old in an attempt to rekindle the old flame. Though he has received no formal art training, Ryan considers himself a life-long student of art and is constantly studying form, structure, light, and shadow in an attempt to better convey 3D forms on a 2D surface. Ryan’s background as a personal trainer and massage therapist has granted him a solid understanding of the underlying anatomy of the human form. He is drawn to black and white mediums like charcoal and graphite for their simplicity and potential to convey the contrast between light and shadow in a visually striking way. Ryan accepts commission work.
The work of both talented artists will be available throughout the month of May. The opening reception will take place at the NCIARTworks Gallery on May 9th from 6 to 8pm; it is free and all are welcome. A private viewing of the exhibit can be arranged any time by emailing [email protected].
--end--
NCI ARTworks is a regional arts agency, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and expanding the arts community in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties through artistic collaboration, educational outreach, and art space development. Its mission also is to create venues that support public and private education, community events, economic development, and cultural tourism. NCI ARTworks Gallery is located at 400 5th Street in Peru, in the west wing of the Westclox building. The organization is supported, in part, by the Illinois Arts Council Agency. For more information visit www.nciartworks.com.
Meet the Artists
Ryan Jandrey is a charcoal and graphite artist born and raised in Dixon and specializing in classical portraiture
and the human form. He developed an interest in all things art related at an early age but eventually
put down his pencils to pursue other interests before picking them back up again at 28 years old in an
attempt to rekindle the old flame. Though he has received no formal art training, Ryan considers
himself a life-long student of art and is constantly studying form, structure, light, and shadow in an
attempt to better convey 3D forms on a 2D surface.
Ryan’s background as a personal trainer and massage therapist has granted him a solid understanding of the underlying anatomy of the human form. He is drawn to black and white mediums like charcoal and graphite for their simplicity and potential to convey the contrast between light and shadow in a visually striking way. Ryan is now accepting commission work for 2025.
and the human form. He developed an interest in all things art related at an early age but eventually
put down his pencils to pursue other interests before picking them back up again at 28 years old in an
attempt to rekindle the old flame. Though he has received no formal art training, Ryan considers
himself a life-long student of art and is constantly studying form, structure, light, and shadow in an
attempt to better convey 3D forms on a 2D surface.
Ryan’s background as a personal trainer and massage therapist has granted him a solid understanding of the underlying anatomy of the human form. He is drawn to black and white mediums like charcoal and graphite for their simplicity and potential to convey the contrast between light and shadow in a visually striking way. Ryan is now accepting commission work for 2025.
Matt Jagitsch
Growing up in the central Illinois town of Jacksonville, Matt found his love for art at a young age. A self described “dreamer” in his youth, he often found himself using art as an escape into a world of fantasy and interpretation. His love of art only began to grow as he entered middle and high school, to which he attributes that love to many amazing educators along the way. Teachers who taught him that art was a legitimate pursuit and possible career path. He went on to Eastern Illinois University in the early 90’s where he was a two dimensional studio major with an art history minor. After graduation he took a non art related job and time spent with a pencil or brush began to drift away. Within a year it had stopped completely. It remained that way for 28 years. During Covid shutdowns, at the urging of his wife to find something to occupy his new-found spare time, he began to draw again. Within a month he had begun working with white pencil on black paper, a medium used once when he was 14 under the guidance of a middle school art teacher. He now works exclusively in this medium and has completed over 300 pieces in the last 3 years. While Matt has worked with many different reference genres, portraiture of both human and wildlife has been his primary work. He has shown live throughout northern and central Illinois as well as nationally and internationally in online exhibits. A few of his awards include 2021 Best in Show winner at the Grand Detour Arts Festival, and three consecutive years Best in Show winner of the Dixon IL Phidian Art Show in 2022, 23 and 24.
He is thrilled to be returning to NCI Artworks, where he had his first solo show in 2022. This year also features shows with the Springfield Art Association at The Cellar in June and July, and Quad City Arts at the Quad Cities International Airport in July and August
“Something I’ve always done is make simplistic things more complicated. And while that isn’t always the correct path to take in life, it works for me in art. I keep my palette to a minimum and enjoy exploring every detail I can create while continuing to reveal the artist's hand in the piece.”
Growing up in the central Illinois town of Jacksonville, Matt found his love for art at a young age. A self described “dreamer” in his youth, he often found himself using art as an escape into a world of fantasy and interpretation. His love of art only began to grow as he entered middle and high school, to which he attributes that love to many amazing educators along the way. Teachers who taught him that art was a legitimate pursuit and possible career path. He went on to Eastern Illinois University in the early 90’s where he was a two dimensional studio major with an art history minor. After graduation he took a non art related job and time spent with a pencil or brush began to drift away. Within a year it had stopped completely. It remained that way for 28 years. During Covid shutdowns, at the urging of his wife to find something to occupy his new-found spare time, he began to draw again. Within a month he had begun working with white pencil on black paper, a medium used once when he was 14 under the guidance of a middle school art teacher. He now works exclusively in this medium and has completed over 300 pieces in the last 3 years. While Matt has worked with many different reference genres, portraiture of both human and wildlife has been his primary work. He has shown live throughout northern and central Illinois as well as nationally and internationally in online exhibits. A few of his awards include 2021 Best in Show winner at the Grand Detour Arts Festival, and three consecutive years Best in Show winner of the Dixon IL Phidian Art Show in 2022, 23 and 24.
He is thrilled to be returning to NCI Artworks, where he had his first solo show in 2022. This year also features shows with the Springfield Art Association at The Cellar in June and July, and Quad City Arts at the Quad Cities International Airport in July and August
“Something I’ve always done is make simplistic things more complicated. And while that isn’t always the correct path to take in life, it works for me in art. I keep my palette to a minimum and enjoy exploring every detail I can create while continuing to reveal the artist's hand in the piece.”