"Venus in Cleveland" (detail) - by Jerome Caja
(nail polish, enamel, glitter, and white out) Excerpted from: Jerome After the Pageant 7 x 4 in., unknown date 
"Connie Krishna" - by Anna van der Meulen
Single image from the “Hey Honey” series February 1983, 18in x 12in Jerome Caja (1958 – 1995)
-- Painter, Prankster, Performer -- Jerome Caja was born in Cleveland into a Catholic family of 11 boys. He majored in studio art at Cleveland State and earned a master's degree in ceramics at the San Francisco Art Institute.
This humble, self-possessed artist painted exquisite miniatures with everything that you would find in a drag queen's handbag: nail polish, glitter, make-up, lipstick, and eye liner. His canvases included pistachio shells, lockets, discarded bottle caps, and small scraps of paper. Jerome's iconography pays homage to a wide cast of saints and sinners: Jesus, the Virgin Mary, Saint Lucy, Satan, imps, priests, cherubs, demented clowns, cannibalistic birds, pigs, and gay icons. Jerome died at the height of the AIDS-Art-Activism era in San Francisco from complications related to HIV. His papers are housed in the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, and his work is collected in major museums around the country. 
"Eggs Having Turkey Dinner" - by Jerome Caja
(nail polish and enamel on metal tip tray) Excerpted from: Jerome After the Pageant 3 3/4 x 6 3/4 x 3/8 in., 1989 Awards Given to Date
"The Satanic Worm" (detail) - by Jerome Caja
(nail polish and eyeliner on bottle cap) 1993, Unknown dimensions Stay Informed
If you are interested in receiving updates on what is happening with Jerome and his art, please sign up for The Jerome Project Newsletter by filling out our contact form.
Thank You to the NEAThe Jerome Project is particularly grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts for its continued support. The NEA has generously funded BAVC's MediaMaker Fellowship and Preservation Access programs. We have benefited greatly from both!
A Call for Art & Stories
Right now we are looking for personal photos, film clips, paintings, and most of all, stories related to Jerome and his art. If you knew Jerome or if you know of anybody who did, or if you ran in similar circles with him, please share your stories. We are excited to hear, document, and work with your memories
Currently we are collecting extensive oral interviews from key individuals in his life -- friends and family, as well as community members, artists, and art critics. If you would like to participate, please contact us. |
Welcome to THE JEROME PROJECTThe Jerome Project is a multi-platform art history project to preserve, protect, and promote the artistic legacy of the late Jerome Caja (1958-1995). The goal is to bring greater visibility and accessibility to Jerome’s paintings and performances.
Here you will find descriptions of the seven main projects:
The film "JEROME and the Art of Sainthood" is the driving force for all these projects. We welcome and encourage your contributions. AN UPDATE ON ALL THINGS JEROME
I am currently in the production phase with the documentary and everything is coming together beautifully. I found the ending of my film and started building a rough, assembly cut with a five-act story structure. I am also starting to storyboard several animation sequences. The following blog post (see link below) highlights my work on the film, exhibitions, publications, presentations and fundraising opportunities. This is what I have been up to over the last several years, and it is a joy to be able to share it with you —THANK YOU!
JEROME in Los Angeles
JEROME in Manhattan
New Exhibition at ANGLIM/TRIMBLE
New Jerome Caja Book by Visual AIDS
IT IS HERE! 16 terabytes of Jerome
Top Banner: On the left is Anna van der Meulen's photo of Jerome from the "Hey Honey" series c. February 1983. On the right is Caravaggio's "Saint Jerome in His Study" c. 1606.
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