London Inc. Fall 2021 - 11

Recker posted the playful
" I hadn't been considering
artwork to his social media
accounts. " After about the third
painting, someone asked: Is that
for sale? Things moved pretty
fast from there. "
Recker's first commission
came from New York. " They loved
it and the wife asked if I could do
one for her sister in Seattle. " Recker
was soon selling enough artwork to
think his new business might have legs.
" Social media has been key, " he says. " I
never would have been able to do this the traditional
way by getting into an art gallery that takes half. "
A single TikTok video of Recker pouring a resin finish
on his artistic tribute to Gord Downie of The Tragically
Hip garnered 20,000 views in one weekend - and led to
eight commissions. More recently, Pearl Jam shared one of
Recker's reels with their 2.7 million Instagram followers.
Recker says most of his clients have been women in search
of a one-of-a-kind birthday or anniversary gift for their
spouse. He's also sold to recording studios, to families renovating
a rec room and to people working from home during
Covid who had grown tired of looking at their beige walls.
" I think my art hits a chord with people, " he says. " It takes
them back to a time when life was simpler. "
This summer, Recker took another step towards turning
his side hustle into a full-time business. He signed a lease
on a 1,400-square-foot art studio and gallery, located across
from Aeolian Hall in London's Old East Village. The former
gym and retail space needed little work, apart from the
addition of lighting and two large workstations.
a storefront, but as soon as I
walked in, I knew it would be
perfect, " Recker says. " I've
always thought there is a lot of
potential on this strip, " he adds.
" If I can help bring this area back
to life, I want to be part of it. "
Recker Art is currently open by
appointment, with Recker keeping
fairly regular work hours in the studio
(www.jasonrecker.com).
Londoners and visitors to London will
have the opportunity to see more of Recker's
art when the Hard Rock Hotel opens at 100 Kellogg Lane in
late 2022. Already familiar with the global brand, Recker
reached out to the company as soon as he heard about the
London project. His rock 'n roll artwork and background
in branding turned out to be the perfect fit, and Hard Rock
offered him the position of art curator for the new hotel and
entertainment venue.
" Their mandate is to use as much local talent as possible, "
explains Recker, who will create his own original pieces for
the property in addition to sourcing work from others.
That project and his own artwork should keep Recker
busy for the foreseeable future. But that doesn't mean Carve
Design is on hold. Although he's excited to see where Recker
Art will go next, Recker is still working with his stable of
existing graphic design clients.
" I'll always be a graphic designer, " he says. " The pandemic
gave me the time to explore another creative outlet. It opened
up a whole new door for me. I decided to go through it and to
see what happens. "
NICOLE LAIDLER
FALL 2021 | londonincmagazine.ca | 11
http://www.jasonrecker.com https://musiccitycanada.com/ http://www.londonincmagazine.ca
London Inc. Fall 2021

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