Jed Gjerek BIO
Jed Gjerek (b. 1974, Varazdin, Croatia) is an art-based researcher whose work delves into the intersections of digital media, artificial intelligence (AI), and traditional art forms. Jed’s artistic journey covers nearly three decades, evolving from classical training in painting, sculpting, and ceramics to the cutting edge of digital art. Jed obtain MA in Art in Creative Practice from ATU Galway. He graduated in Contemporary Art from ATU (IE) and in Drawing and Painting from Art School Fisher (Cro). He has extended experience in ceramics and is a traditional pottery of northwest Croatia expert awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Croatia. Jed has worked in art education for the last eleven years. Currently, he has a role as an adult educator in digital media and painting with the Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB).
His recent research focusses on the transition from mimesis to simulacra and hyperreality, exploring how AI-generated content and digital media reshape our perception of reality. By integrating visual programming languages and AI algorithms in his research, Jed explores how computer-driven experiences challenge the idea of an original or authentic source, culminating in the concept of hyperreality, where the boundaries between the real and the simulated dissolve, blurring the lines between life and non-life, human and non-human, and real and virtual.
Education
2024, MA in Art in Creative practice, School of Design and Creative Arts, ATU Galway City
2023, BA (hon) in Contemporary Art, School of Design and Creative Arts, ATU Galway City
2020, QQI Level 6 Training and Development, DCM Ireland
1998, QQI Level 6 Painting and Drawing, Art School Fisher, Croatia
Training/Apprenticeship
- – 2019. Therapeutic Art Life Coach, Udemy, Ireland
- Introduction to Children First, TUSLA, Ireland
- Ceramics restoration, Varazdin City Museum, Croatia
- – 2010. Valorization of cultural tourism, EU SeeNet2, Italy/Croatia
- – 2001. Pottery/Ceramic Art, apprenticeship, Croatia
- – 2000. Studio practice, painting, T. E. Fisher Studio, Croatia
Exhibitions (curator and producer)
2021 Annual Clay Galway Exhibition, Shop Window, online and Tuam, co. Galway, Ireland, co-curator and co-producer among Rob D’Eath
2021 Clay Galway Annual Online Show, co-curator and co-producer among Rob D’Eath
2021 Clay Journeys, Galway 2020, co-producer and co-curator among Rob D’Eath
- 12+1, Varazdin City Museum, Croatia, curator
Exhibitions (solo)
2015 Traditional Croatian Ceramics, Kaposvar, Hungary
2012 Ceramics Craft, City Hall, Varazdin, Croatia
2010 Croatian Traditional Ceramics, Herb Messe, Graz, Austria
2008 Traditional Pottery of Northwest Croatia, Ericsson Nikola Tesla Gallery, Zagreb, Croatia,
2006 Traditional Croatian Ceramics, Lubenice, Cres Island, Croatia
2000 U Ime Naroda, collages, Palatin Gallery, Cakovec, Croatia
Exhibitions (group-selection)
2024, The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls, MA the end of the year show, Galway Arts Centre, Ireland
2023 Clay/Work, Annua Ceramics Ireland member show, Dublin castle Printwork, Ireland
2023 Degree Show, ATU Galway City, Ireland
2022 Search Engine, 3r year ATU Galway art students show, Wellpark Road Campus, Galway, Ireland, mixed media
2021 Annual Clay Galway Exhibition, Shop Window, online and Tuam, co. Galway, Ireland, ceramics
2021 Annual Ceramics Ireland Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland, ceramics
2021 Ceramics Ireland Selected Exhibition, Dublin, Ireland, ceramics
2021 Clay Galway Annual Show, online at claygalway.com, ceramics
2021 Clay Journeys, Galway 2020, online, ceramics
2020 Annual Ceramics Ireland Members Exhibition, Dublin Castle, Ireland, ceramics
2019 Annual Clay Galway Members Exhibition, Tribeton Galway, Ireland, ceramics
2017 Jugs, A unique exhibition of Irish Ceramics and Glass Jugs, McCambridge’s, Galway,
Ireland, ceramics
2015 Kerameikon in Advent, Varazdin, Croatia, ceramics
1998 Conning Gallery, Varazdin, Croatia, paintings
1997 Conning Gallery, Varazdin, Croatia, paintings
Work commissioned
2022, Transition Primary to Secondary School mural, STAR HSCL Tuam, Tuam
2022, Travelers Community workshop, STAR HSCL Tuam, Tuam
2021, Travelers Community mural, STAR HSCL Tuam, Tuam
2019, Travelers Community workshop, STAR HSCL Tuam, Tuam
2017/2011, Traditional Pottery, Varazdin City Council, Varazdin, Croatia
2016, Traditional Pottery Course, Ministry of Culture, Croatia
2014/2013 Traditional Pottery, Varazdin City Museum, Varazdin, Croatia
Bibliography
2023, Smash Hits – Grayson Perry, Ceramics Irelan Magazine (author)
2021 Very Best of Irish Contemporary Ceramics, monography by John Goode
2021 Inspired by Ireland, Ceramics Ireland Magazine, issue 45/2021, by Rosa Roccaforte
2015 „Cinfranje – tradicijsko ukrašavanje lončarskih predmeta sjeverozapadne Hrvatske“
(Cinfranje – traditional pottery of northwest Croatia decoration), research work
2014 “Tradicijsko lončarstvo Sjeverozapadne Hrvatske između Drave i Ivanščice” (Traditional
pottery of northwest Croatia between Drava and Ivancica), monography, text and photo
2012 “Nematerijalno kulturno nasleđe – analiza pravnog okvira na primeru tradicionalne
keramičke proizvodnje” (“Intangible cultural heritage – legal frame analysis on traditional
ceramics production”), National Museum Beograd, selected work photo
Conference and Symposium
2018, Prehistorical Firing, Archaeological Institute and University Zagreb, Archaeological Department, Zlatar, Croatia
2015, Traditional Pottery Between Drava and Ivancica, Gospodarska Secondary School Varazdin, Croatia
Awards
Ceramics Ireland Graduate Award 2023
Holder of intangible assets for Traditional pottery of northwest Croatia, Ministry of culture, Croatia, 2016
Memberships
2023, Visual Artists Ireland
2020, Artaxis, World Independent Network of Contemporary Sculptors and Ceramists
2019, Clay Galway, Ireland
2018, Ceramics Ireland, Ireland
2005, The Croatian Association of ceramists Kerameikon, Croatia