Jason Middlebrook, A Lucky Gift

Jason Middlebrook

A Lucky Gift

12 colors across 11 lithographic layers, with an additional 7 colors in 3 screenprint layers on Magnani Pescia

Price range: $3,500 through $3,935

Jason Middlebrook’s deep connection to nature, evident in his immediate responses to the environment around him, informs much of his work. Upon arriving at PS Marlowe printmaking studio in Asheville, North Carolina, Jason immediately began searching his outdoor and indoor surroundings for inspiration.

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Year
2023
Edition of
35
Dimensions
Paper: 28.75 x 22 inches
Image: 20.5 x 16.5 inches
Authentication

Signed, numbered, dated, and titled on the front by the artist. All Haystack editions come with a Certificate of Authenticity.

About the Artwork

Jason Middlebrook’s deep connection to nature, evident in his immediate responses to the environment around him, informs much of his work. Upon arriving at PS Marlowe printmaking studio in Asheville, North Carolina, Jason immediately began searching his outdoor and indoor surroundings for inspiration. The resulting findings would cement a rubber plant (known to attract luck) as the primary focus of this vibrant print.

A Lucky Gift is meticulously crafted, combining lithography and screenprinting to achieve soft blends and tactile dimension. This layered approach emphasizes the importance of texture, color, and the physical presence of printmaking. A Lucky Gift was printed in collaboration with the artist and PS Marlowe Studios, Asheville, NC. Master printer Phil Sanders, assisted by Lindsey Sigmon, worked with Jason to determine and implement the printing processes that would best achieve his vision. Each print was created by a combination of lithography and screenprinting.

Curator's Note

Middlebrook’s plant-centric approach not only shapes the subjects of his art, but also influences his color schemes and mark-making decisions as well. The background, reminiscent of slate mountains, undergoes shifts in color and light resulting in an earthy, rock-like texture. A vibrant sunset blend on the rubber plant stands out in deliberate contrast. Even at the image edges, where the plant disrupts the rigid plane, there’s a captivating interplay between moments of awe and solidity. This tension contributes to the artwork’s impact, as Jason seeks to evoke a nuanced experience, oscillating between moments of brilliance and a grounded backdrop.

About the Artist

Jason Middlebrook

Jason Middlebrook (b. 1966 in Jackson, MI) is a painter, sculptor, and mixed-media artist whose artworks range from intricate paintings to site-specific installations. Middlebrook’s work is a meditation on nature’s power and man’s interaction with it. He pays deft attention to the ways we use, overlook, desire, and adore the world around us.

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