If art is a mirror to society, it’s no wonder why San Jose-based artist Jason Adams’ work is so popular. Whether it’s Marilyn Monroe wearing an eye patch that reads “Luv Me,” or a portrait of Charles Bukowski entitled “Kill Yourself Laughing,” his work speaks to the inner desires of the underdog in all of us. His stylized renditions draw from a vast arena of subjects, which share a common feel. That feel, a combination of stencil art and freeform paint strokes, takes familiar images and turns them into tones of emotion, rather than just skillfully crafted reproductions.

The Marilyn Monroe portrait, for example, takes sharp, angular pieces, arranged on a stencil with a exacto knife, and turns them into one of the most iconic women in American history. Viewed alone, the individual stencils that comprise the various colors and features of Marilyn’s face, make little sense; they are abstract polygons floating in space. When the stencils are combined the image comes to life, but still retains that ethereal feeling of something familiar being created from chaos. The eye patch and the skull-and-crossbones necklace add a bit of melancholy humor to the piece. Overall, the work Jason does speaks in familiar echoes to his audience. It is often intense and brutal, but always familiar.

His current subject matter utilizes characters and personalities that are often bundled into some sort of stereotype. The characters are transformed to reveal realities juxtaposing those of popular classification. For example, the piece, “Roots Rock Rebel,” shows Joe Strummer saluting while holding his boombox on a background of stars. It’s very patriotic in a sense, which is something often forgotten about Joe Strummer. He was a patriot of human rights and freedom, a fact often swept under his punk rock pedigree. <!–nextpage–>

Jason’s work reminds the viewer of the complexities and multiplicity of the human condition. He is constantly challenging his audiences to reevaluate their perceptions of the world and themselves.

When speaking about his ability to draw that kind of dialogue out of his audiences, Jason says, “It takes a certain sensitivity, which makes you a victim to the bullshit.” If that’s the case, It seems Jason has a good working relationship with the BS of the world. You can see him poking fun at it through his work. He’s the underdog nipping at heels of people who take themselves too seriously.

It’s not all fun and games though; in fact, it’s mostly painstaking work and a constant confrontation with the artist’s self-criticism. As Jason puts it, “No matter what you achieve, you still think you’re a pile of shit.”

For a guy that’s achieved quite a bit in his life, that comment almost begs the question if that kind of attitude is a component of success? His work is constantly on display in galleries around the world, and in more accessible venues, like T-shirts, album covers and skateboard graphics. If that wasn’t enough, he’s spent the last 20 years as a world-renown skateboarder. Recently joining a new skateboard label, Elephant Brand, started by Mike Vallely, Jason doesn’t have much time to relax. Between the art, skateboarding, two daughters and a wife, he’s a busy guy.

Generally, the mainstream art aficionados overlook artists who have a past in skateboarding. They are marginalized to an area somewhere off to the side of Pop Art. One look at Jason’s website, losthighway66.com, will prove that kind of attitude an unfortunate one. With that there seems to be a parallel between skateboarding and Jason’s art. Once upon a time the mainstream didn’t think anything of skateboarding, then one day it just shoved its way into the consciousness of America, made itself a sandwich, and sat down to stay. That’s probably the fate awaiting Jason’s art. It’s only a matter of time before its popularity reaches critical mass and explodes all over lunch boxes and car commercials. Of course, at that point Jason will probably abandon it for another underdog endeavor in need of nourishment.

Jason Adam’s work will be on display locally at Black and Brown’s 7-year anniversary show on Saturday March 31.