Jeff Cylkowski is an abstract painter interested in the psychology of perception and consciousness, pop culture, and the visceral aesthetic of human experience.

Of Korean descent, born in Chicago, and adopted at birth to a Caucasian family from Minnesota, Jeff’s intrigue with perception and culture began at an early age, as he attempted to make sense of the non-conventional appearance of his family.

After failed attempts at good grades and school sports, Jeff found solace and creative inspiration in skateboarding, punk rock, and hip-hop. He would end up spending a good portion of his youth and early adulthood breakdancing, and painting walls and trains throughout nearly every major city in the US, the vast majority of Europe, and various cities in Asia and South America.

He attended high school in Indianapolis, IN., where he pioneered a graffiti scene that is still thriving today. He is a founding member of the internationally renowned MUL (MadeULook) crew from Chicago; an organization that focuses on large scale murals, youth leadership and education, and the preservation of graffiti/street art culture.

Jeff was also an active member of the flourishing San Francisco graffiti/street art movement of the late 90’s, where he painted alongside contemporaries such as Barry McGee, Shepard Fairey (Obey), Sam Flores, Mike Giant, and others who helped innovate the new “urban art” genre.

Over the last fifteen years, Jeff has been involved with several community art and youth leadership projects with organizations such as Precita Eyes, The Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Asian Arts Initiative, and Philadelphia Cares. He has facilitated workshops and lectured at various high schools, colleges, and conferences throughout the US. He has been featured in Hyphen magazine, MTV, and also been commissioned to do various projects for Converse, Verizon, and Powerade.

In 2009, he was awarded the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, Artist and Communities grant. He is currently the summer artist-in-residence at the Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia.

He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.