Jake Merten

Born and raised in Chicago, Jake Merten is a self-taught artist specializing in free-hand aerosol mural work. He began painting in 2012 after moving to Los Angeles, and has since traveled all over the country installing public work and exhibiting in galleries. Merten returned to Chicago in 2019 to bring his talents back to the city that raised him, and has since been painting and teaching locally. Jake often focuses on relevant culture references, bright colors, movement and emotion, redistributing them on an urban scale. This creates a juxtaposition between the lively thematic aspects of his vision and our sometimes stark reality.