By Elise Mackanych
Academy of Art University School of Fine Art (FA) alum Jacob Dhein (M.F.A. 2013) was recently selected to feature his work at the prestigious European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) in Barcelona, Spain. In a city full of architectural wonders, vibrant sidewalks, and a rich artistic history, there are many opportunities for artists to find their creative edge. With one of his pieces featured at MEAM, Dhein has become an emerging part of the city’s immersive art scene.
A hardworking student, Dhein gained a strong foundation of technical abilities that allowed for a smooth transition from painting with traditional techniques to contemporary fashion.
During his time at the Academy, Dhein made the most of networking, which granted him opportunities such as obtaining shows in galleries and being featured in art publications, such as the American Art Collector Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, and The Art Edge blog.
Transitioning from school to a career can be a challenging, even scary, journey for an artist, but Dhein advises current students to “keep moving forward no matter what. Being an artist is difficult. Take rejection and failure as a grain of salt.”
The alum added: “I’ve been rejected from galleries and many artist competitions, but I have always kept moving forward.”
“Jacob started with exhibits at galleries, one in particular that we linked him with, Waterhouse Gallery in Santa Barbara, California. Jacob also pursued national galleries, promoting himself in shows, and started selling his work successfully,” said FA Executive Director of Painting and Printmaking Dr. Craig Nelson. “[He was] constantly putting in more time into his work as he developed a professional work ethic throughout his time in the fine art department at the Academy. He carries on this work ethic today, and that attributes to his success.”
After meeting his wife and moving to Spain, Dhein has garnered a lot of inspiration from working next to her at their studio in southern Spain. In May 2024, Dhein received an email from the MEAM, giving him the liberty to create any urban landscape for their upcoming “Urbes, Contemporary Landscapes” exhibition. The result was a 120-centimeter by 150-centimeter urban landscape of San Francisco.
“The image/scene I used inspired me many years ago when I was walking in the rain to work at the Academy of Art University,” shared Dhein. “I wanted to make a painting that I was comfortable with rather than experimenting [with] something new. Since I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for around 10 years, painted plein air in the city, and painted countless cityscapes, I was very familiar with the scene and felt confident it would turn out well.”
On the opening night of the “Urbes, Contemporary Landscapes” exhibition at MEAM, Dhein received positive feedback on his piece from museumgoers, which has continued through social media and additional gallery showings of his work. However, being able to display his work at MEAM was a notable milestone in Dhein’s career.
“It was an amazing experience to exhibit and meet so many international artists of such a high caliber,” said Dhein.
The “Urbes, Contemporary Landscapes” exhibition was on display from Sept. 27, 2024, to Jan. 12, 2025.