Asa Jackson attended Boston University, where he studied sociology, dabbled in street art, and started selling painted t-shirts and tennis shoes to fellow students and Bostonians. Upon leaving BU in 2010, he headed back to his home in Hampton Roads, Virginia, excited at the opportunity to paint and make clothing full time. In the fall of 2010, Asa was selected as one of four muralists to paint the cities of Hampton Roads, in a project sponsored by Alt Daly Magazine and the Chrysler Museum. 

His love of art began as a child; sparked by art classes, a family that nurtured creativity, and opportunities to frequent galleries and museums in both the US and abroad. Such exposure to great art in his formative years impressed upon him the power of creation. Artists who would later have an influence on his style are Rodin, Van Gogh, Pollock, Twombly, Dubuffet, and Basquiat, to name a few. 

Asa considers himself to be a portrait artist; bringing the characters of his subconscious to life with paint. He finds in his work a certain conceptual freedom that takes him far away from the flesh toned faces of the familiar. For Asa, the freedom is in the color, not black and white. 

As an artist, Asa moves one to look beyond the apparent, into what is transparent. He paints in layers, often times exposing previous strokes and undertones to give the viewer a sense of depth; revealing many facets of a character. His work inspires the confidence to explore the intricacies and beauty of ones own life.

He rarely plans a piece. His process, however, emerges from his subconscious mind. First, he allows colors and forms to take shape naturally, in a given space. He then refines what is on the surface until a clear form arises. Asa’s art mimics the transitory nature of life, often not planned and calculated, but beautiful, nonetheless.

Within the past year, Asa has painted private and public murals and participated in group shows and private exhibitions on the East Coast. He is also currently participating in an ongoing mural project in the Hampton Roads Area.