BIOJerry Garcia was a unique artist who both symbolized and transcended his era. His work as lead guitarist, singer and composer for the Jerry Garcia Band and the Grateful Dead created his reputation as a superb and versatile musician. Throughout three decades, Jerry was a tireless performer who brought joy to millions of fans. In addition to being a rock star, he was also an industrious and introspective visual artist whose drive to express himself went well beyond playing concerts and making recordings. 

Jerry Garcia created over 500 pieces of art during his lifetime. He began drawing as a child when recovering from bouts of asthma. Years later, he studied at The California School of Fine Arts, now known as the San Francisco Art Institute, in San Francisco, and continued to paint and draw while focusing on his career as a musician. While on the road touring, Jerry often kept a notebook for sketches, paintings, and line drawings. In addition he explored the latest computer techniques, especially enthusiastic about using his Powerbook.

To Garcia, visual art provided another means of creativity. Jerry created nearly 500 pieces of art between 1985 and 1995 using watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink, airbrush and digital media. During the last few years of his life Jerry had several art shows in different cities in the United States, and sold hundreds of his original works and thousands of lithographs. He often attended these shows and enjoyed meeting people who shared his interest in the visual arts.

Lost Art
Of the hundreds of works Jerry created only one hundred of them have been properly archived. The Estate of Jerry Garcia has only Xerox copies of many pieces. Because of poor record keeping during Jerry's lifetime, we have the names of only a few of the people who bought his original art. We would very much appreciate the opportunity to work with people who own Jerry's original art to arrange for the photographing of the pieces in appropriately lit 4" by 5" color transparencies. The Estate will pay all costs for this documentation. We hope professional archiving will allow for the development of new prints for collectors and art books. In addition, knowing the owners and location of all of Jerry's work will allow for the possibility of art shows, revealing more dimensions of Jerry's work a visual artist.

We are looking for the owners of Jerry's original art. If you own one of these pieces, please contact us.

Or by mail:
Jerry Garcia Estate LLC
attn: Webmaster
3001 Bridgeway, #360
Sausalito, CA 94965

Please Note: we are only interested in originals at this time.

Additionally The Jerry Garcia Estate is interested hand-signed lithographs and originals artwork by Jerry. We have a waiting list of clients interested in these pieces. Please contact us if you are interested in reselling your artwork.


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