Featured Member: Dorian (Jay) Durrah on HBCU CONNECT!

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Q&A With Dorian (Jay) Durrah

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Dorian (Jay) Durrah
Process Manager/ ceo, AT&T/Jay Durrah's Art, LLC
Location: Cheverly, MD United States
Joined: May 19th, 2015

About (request update)

Jay Durrah is a self-taught artist from Western PA who has been sketching since the age of nine. His grandfather noticed his skills and asked him to draw the sketch in the TV Guide. It was an ad in the journal for an art institution that stated, “ If you can draw this, you too can be an artist

Jay is drawn to creating portraits. He starts most portraits with the eyes for he believes they capture the essence of a person’s being.

Jay’s burgeoning style strategically places patches of vibrant oil colors on canvas to form beautiful faces. The use of multiple colors represents the multiracial aspect of humans. No one is of a pure race; people have much more in common than the differences society tries to emphasize. Through his art, Jay would like people to focus on the commonality of humanity.

This gifted artist had some formal training at the Corcoran School of Art and the Montpelier Arts Center. Jay has shown his work at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, The Essence Music Festival, the Lincoln Center in Manhattan, The Three Rivers Art Festival in Pittsburgh, the African Art Festival in Chicago, Walton Gallery in Petersburg, VA, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Capitol One Corporate Offices in Richmond, the Capital Jazz Fest in Maryland, Busboys and Poets Restaurant in Shirlington, Virginia, Howard University in DC, the National Harbor in Maryland, the Pittsburgh Playwright Theatre in Pennsylvania the Lakefest Art Festival in Maryland, the Hyattsville Art Festival in Maryland, Artomatic in No. Virginia and Annie’s Gallery in Maryland.

Jay’s work is currently displayed at Walton Gallery in Petersburg, VA and the University Town Center 2 in Hyattsville, MD.

Jay currently resides in the Washington DC metropolitan area with his wife, Rita. Beyond his commitment to art, Jay also stays active in the community, working with several programs geared to helping youth both locally and nationally.

Education (request update)

Howard University class of 1983

Undergrad Major: Political Science

Claim To Fame:

In 2013, Jay was awarded The Most Unique Artist of Congo Square at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.