Tag: Manhattan

The Guggenheim Shares My Twenty-Year Painting Project

On July 2, 2009, my first day as a full-time artist, I set up an easel across Fifth Avenue from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and began painting.

Seventeen years later, the Guggenheim shared three paintings from the resulting series across its social channels.

The October 30 feature, part of the museum’s #FrankLloydWrightFridays, brings together My Guggenheim, Toward My Egypt (2026), Panton Guggenheim (2022), and Cartoon Cake Guggenheim (2025). Three very different interpretations of a building I’ve been returning to annually since the beginning of my career.

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Cartoon Cake Guggenheim, Guggenheim Painting 17 of 20

Cartoon Cake Guggenheim Painting by Borbay

For Year Seventeen in my 20-Year-Guggenheim series, I returned to 89th Street and 5th Avenue to paint on-location. Once again, the vibes, energy, conversations and weather dictated the canvas… my reason for creating on-site.

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The, The Kramer — A Painting

Jerry Seinfeld is a fan of “the”. Not wanting his writers to waste time coming up with titles… a simple equation was established = The + Situation.

In “The Letter”, Episode 21, Season 3; Jerry’s girlfriend paints a portrait of Kramer. The result? ‘The Kramer’. And so, my painting, based on a painting created on a show about nothing, is titled, ‘The, The Kramer’.

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Spring Time Guggenheim, #16 of 20

Spring at the Guggenheim Painting by Borbay

For the 16th work in my 20-Year-Guggenheim Series, I re-visited to the streets of New York to paint on 5th Avenue.

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Roughly Synonymous? Better “Get The Picture”

“Get The Picture” by Bianca Bosker is a fascinating art world exposé. The ART WORLD? Gigantic and infinitesimal. The center? Manhattan. My home of 13 years. Despite being full-time since July 2, 2009 — a self-represented artist based in Idaho is an extreme art world outsider.

Accordingly, the following had me spitting coffee:

“…at certain Brooklyn openings, you could reliably revive a stalled-out conversation by shitting on Gagosian, capitalism, or painting, all of which were roughly synonymous.”

Gold, Jerry. Gold! Right there and then, “Roughly Synonymous” was born.

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Zabar’s Painting by Borbay

Zabars New York City Painting by Borbay

I may live in Idaho, but New York City still courses through my veins. So, you can imagine my immense pleasure when I was commissioned to paint Zabar’s — an Upper West Side icon. I can still taste the coffee and black-and-white’s in my mind (and thanks to Goldbelly, literally)…

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Hotel Chelsea Painted by Borbay

Chelsea Hotel Painting by Borbay

Several beers deep, meandering past the Chelsea Hotel… I was beckoned — “Hit the bodega. Buy a sixer. Come inside.”

Make like a dealer, avoid eye contact, get to the elevators… climb stairs, lose yourself, absorb art…mingle with ghosts. On the roof, crack a beer, grab a hammock, take in the washed out stars… what does it all mean?

Hotel Chelsea by Borbay

If you told me I’d paint this picture in my 40th year, living in Idaho as a father of three…

Introducing my latest, a 20”X20”X1.5”, acrylic and enamel painting of ‘The Chelsea’. Of late, I’ve been compelled to experiment… put away the ruler and paint with emotion. Buy the ticket, take the ride.

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Pandemic Guggenheim

Pandemic Guggenheim Painting by Borbay 2020

Only 113 days remain in 2020. This 366 day lap around the sun is about ceding control. And so, while creating the 12th work in my 20-year Guggenheim Painting Series — I embraced our new reality, and went rogue. This was painted entirely with my left hand. First with a brush, then with a palette knife. There was no plan… like 2020? It simply happened.

Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear, well, he eats you.

https://www.facebook.com/JasonBorbet/videos/10108198608120410

Being surrounded by the wondrous art created by my children, the importance of spontaneous creativity is palpable. Art, like life, is about routine, protocol, strategy… and sometimes, you must eschew the standard, and simply create.

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White Horse Tavern Neon Sign Painting by Borbay

White Horse Tavern Painting by Borbay 2020

2020 is here… and so is my first signed painting — the ‘White Horse Tavern’.  For those of you with literary passion… the ghost of Dylan Thomas lives here.

And, in case you haven’t heard — the White Horse is now owned by Eytan Sugarman — a gentleman I’ve come to know since beginning this piece. I’m looking forward to kicking-it with Eytan at this iconic NYC institution, drink in hand.

Care to join me on a time lapse journey? Here’s sending lots of love to MH the Verb for the 🔥 soundtrack. Call me biased, but I’m partial to those with a ‘Borbay in their hallway’ — I also enjoy imported bottles of vodka from Norway.

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