ARTIST & GRAPHIC DESIGNER
About me...
I am an artist, graphic designer, sometimes writer, and full-time seeker living in the shadow of New York's Shawangunk Ridge.
Though predominantly self-taught, I studied art and graphic design in high school, mass media production at Rockland Community College and graphic design with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division.​
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Drawing is my favorite form of expression, but I also work in mixed media/collage, love to paint and craft, as well as experiment with digital illustration. My artwork has been described as "mystical" and doesn't shy away from metaphysical, occult, and paranormal themes. Inspired by the symbolic art of alchemy and tarot, 1960's psychedelia and pop art , Surrealism and Art Deco, even comic books have had a major impact on my artistic evolution.
In 2018, I founded Cornwall Arts Collective, a community organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts in Cornwall, New York. Then in 2021, I founded Highlands Arts Alliance to promote the arts in the Town of Highlands, New York. Eventually, in 2024 both groups were merged into the Cornwall-Highlands Arts Alliance, serving both communities and continuing the mission of its predecessors.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2008 - 2009
1999 - 2001
1997 - 1999
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division, Pittsburgh, PA
AS, Mass Media Communications, Rockland Community College, Suffern, NY
Certificate, Graphic Design, Orange-Ulster BOCES Vo-Tech, Goshen, NY
Professional Experience
2017 - present
2005 - present
2003 - 2005
Sole Proprietor, Jay LeRoy Art & Design, Cornwall, NY
Senior Graphic Designer, News of the Highlands, Inc., Cornwall, NY
Junior Graphic Designer, News of the Highlands, Inc., Cornwall, NY
Awards
2020
1st place - Best Small Space Advertisement, Division 1
New York Press Association Better Newspaper Awards
Exhibitions / Events
Group Exhibitions / Events
2024
2023
Celebrating The Arts (juried exhibition), ARTery Gallery, Milford, PA
Holiday Artisan Market (organizer), American Legion Hall, Highland Falls, NY
Cornwall Arts Collective Fall Arts Show, 2 Alices Coffee Lounge, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
The Dark Market (organizer / artist), American Legion Hall, Highland Falls, NY
The Small Wonders Art Show (organizer / artist), Gracie Market, Highland Falls, NY
HAA Members Art Show (organizer / artist) 2 Alices Coffee Lounge, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
Spring Art Fling (organizer), American Legion Hall, Highland Falls, NY
Winter Arts Showcase (organizer / artist), Highlands Arts Alliance Virtual Group Show
HAA Photographers' Salon Yearly Contributor Photography Exhibition (curator), Highland Falls Library, Highland Falls, NY
2022
Holiday Artisan Market (organizer), Delizia's Pizza & Kitchen, Highland Falls, NY
Highlands Arts Alliance Pop-Up Art Show (organizer / artist), Highland Falls, NY
Fall Art Fair (organizer), American Legion Hall, Highland Falls, NY
Bridge Street Park Pop-Up Art Show (organizer / artist) Cornwall, NY
More Than Words arts exhibition (organizer), Highland Falls Library, Highland Falls, NY
Summer Arts Showcase (organizer / artist), Highlands Arts Alliance Virtual Group Show
Spring Art Fling (organizer), American Legion Hall, Highland Falls, NY
Cornwall Arts Collective Members Group Show, 2 Alices Coffee Lounge, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
Winter Arts Showcase (organizer / artist) Highlands Arts Alliance Virtual Group Show
2021
American Legion Auxiliary #633 Holiday Artisan Market (organizer), American Legion Hall, Highland Falls, NY
Cornwall Arts Collective Pop-Up Sale, Farmhouse Market, Cornwall, NY
American Legion Auxiliary #633 Art Fair (organizer), American Legion Hall, Highland Falls, NY
Elements in Art, Cornwall Arts Collective Group Show, Blooming Grove Antiques, New Windsor, NY
Renewal, Cornwall Arts Collective Virtual Group Show
2020
Together For Art, Orange County Arts Council Online Auction
Cornwall Arts Collective Virtual Summer Group Show
Cornwall Arts Collective Members Group Show (organizer / artist), 2 Alices Coffee Lounge, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
2019
Cornwall Arts Collective Members Group Show (organizer / artist), 2 Alices Coffee Lounge, Newburgh, NY
Orange County Arts Council Annual Members Exhibit, Thornwillow Institute, Newburgh, NY
Nature (organizer / artist), Cornwall Arts Collective Members Group Show, Cornwall Public Library, Cornwall, NY
2018
Shop Hop Artists Alley (organizer / artist), The Shops at 277 Main, Cornwall, NY
Sidewalk Showcase (organizer), The Shops at 277 Main, Cornwall, NY
Solo Exhibitions
2018
111, 2 Alices Coffee Lounge, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
Exhibitions Juried
2022
Scholastic Art Awards, Sullivan County BOCES, Liberty, NY
Activities / Instruction
2022
Set The Scene children's arts activity (organizer), Highland Falls Library, Highland Falls, NY
Intro to Art Journaling children's arts activity (organizer), Highland Falls Library, Highland Falls, NY
Bibliography
Mary Jane Pitt, "What is the Highlands Arts Alliance?", The News of the Highlands, January 4, 2023
Barry Plaxen and Sophia Krcic, "Meet Jay LeRoy", Delaware & Hudson CANVAS, February 2022
Jason Kaplan, "Library hosts Arts Collective show", The Cornwall Local, May 3, 2019
Jason Kaplan, "Shoppers buy into supporting local business", The Cornwall Local, November 30, 2018
Jason Kaplan, "Art Collective continues to grow", The Cornwall Local, October 19, 2018
Ken Cashman, "Newspaper's artist has two outside careers", The Cornwall Local, September 21, 2018
Ken Cashman, "Town will be brimming with art on Sunday", The Cornwall Local, August 3, 2018
Ken Cashman, "Sidewalk Showcase debuts next week in Cornwall", The Cornwall Local, June 27, 2018
Select Publications as Author
"Magicians & Mystics", October 2023, self-published by Lulu.com
"Close encounters of the Cornwall kind?", The Cornwall Local, August 27, 2021
"Main Street becomes an outdoor art gallery", The News of the Highlands, April 30, 2021
"The Pandemic versus the Performing Arts", The Cornwall Local, Jay LeRoy and Jason Kaplan, March 26, 2021
"Artists prove to be resilient in tough times", The Cornwall Local, February 26, 2021
Select Commissions
2022
2021
2019
Branding & Graphic Design, The Center of Highland Falls, Inc., Town of Highlands, NY
12-page advertising booklet, Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Town of Highlands, NY
Map illustration and design for fold-out and large scale signage,
Highlands Chamber of Commerce, Town of Highlands, NY
Arts Organizations
Cornwall-Highlands Arts Alliance, founding member (2024)
Highlands Arts Alliance, founding member and former director (2021-2024), Town of Highlands, NY
Cornwall Arts Collective, founding member and former director (2018-2019), Town of Cornwall, NY