Jayson Musson

Jayson Musson
Born	1977  The Bronx
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania University of the Arts Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture
Website	http://jaysonmusson.com

Jayson Scott Musson is an artist who lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. ^[1] He was born in Bronx, NY.

Early life

In an interview in Nat. Brut magazine, Musson said that he grew up in Spring Valley, New York, about 25 minutes from New York City. ^[2]

He stated that he was "pretty much a very quiet kid" who "didn’t care too much for athletics or whatever, just drawing." ^[3]

Education

Musson earned a BFA in photography from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2011, he completed an MFA in painting from the University of Pennsylvania.

Music

Musson is an original member of the Philadelphian rap group Plastic Little, formed during the summer of 2001. A track from the group, "Miller Time", was sampled by Baauer in his 2012 song, "Harlem Shake". The Baauer track went double platinum in the United States ^[4] and inspired a viral internet trend.

Along with Plastic Little, Musson performed with British producer Mark Ronson as well as collaborated with a number of notable Philadelphian acts including Spank Rock and Amanda Blank. ^[5]

Video Performance

In 2010, Musson created the character of Hennessy Youngman, which subsequently became an Internet phenomenon through the popularity of the "Art Thoughtz" video series. ^[6] Musson publicly divides his persona with the character's by referring to Youngman as his "cousin." ^[7] Musson's "ART THOUGHTZ" series is distributed internationally by Electronic Arts Intermix. ^[8]

Solo exhibitions

• 2022: The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia, PA "His History of Art" ^[9]
• 2016: Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, PA "The Truth in the Song" ^[10]
• 2012: Fleisher/Ollman Gallery, Philadelphia, PA "A True Fiend's Weight" ^[11]
• 2012: Salon 94, New York, NY, "Halcyon Days"
• 2011: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA "Hennessy Youngman & Nathaniel Snerpus Present: The Grand Manner"
• 2011: Marginal Utility Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, "Neoteny: The Hard Sell"
• 2008: Dazed & Confused Magazine Gallery, London, England, "Too Black For BET"
• 2006: Space 1026, Philadelphia, PA, "Too Black for BET, Episode II: The Black Boy George"
• 2002: Space 1026, Philadelphia, PA, "Too Black for BET"

References

1. "Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction; Artists; Jayson Musson". artintheage.com. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
2. "[Interview] Jayson Musson Bum In Suit Mistaken For Important Man". Nat. Brut. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
3. "[Interview] Jayson Musson Bum In Suit Mistaken For Important Man". Nat. Brut. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
4. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
5. Pytlik, Mark. "Interviews Diplo". pitchfork.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
6. Boucher, Brian. "Ali G With an MFA: Q+A With Hennessy Youngman". artinamericamagazine.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
7. "Tuesday Evenings at the Modern Fall 2011 Schedule; October 4; Jayson Musson". themodern.org/. 2011. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
8. "Jayson Scott Musson Biography on Electronic Arts Intermix; Jayson Musson". eai.org. 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2012.
9. "Jayson Musson explains art history as a sitcom, at Philly's Fabric Workshop". WHYY. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
10. "Fleisher/Ollman Gallery » Exhibitions » Jayson Musson: The Truth in the Song". www.fleisher-ollmangallery.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 17, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2012.