Jayson Musson Explained

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"

Notes and References

1. Web site: Art In The Age of Mechanical Reproduction; Artists; Jayson Musson. artintheage.com. 25 September 2011.
2. Web site: [Interview] Jayson Musson Bum In Suit Mistaken For Important Man]. Nat. Brut. 2016-03-07.
3. Web site: [Interview] Jayson Musson Bum In Suit Mistaken For Important Man]. Nat. Brut. 2016-03-07.
4. Web site: Gold & Platinum . 2024-01-10 . RIAA . en-US.
5. Web site: Pytlik. Mark. Interviews Diplo. pitchfork.com. 25 September 2011.
6. Web site: Boucher . Brian . Ali G With an MFA: Q+A With Hennessy Youngman . artinamericamagazine.com . 25 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006174808/http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-opinion/conversations/2011-03-24/hennessey-youngman-youtube . 6 October 2011 .
7. Web site: Tuesday Evenings at the Modern Fall 2011 Schedule; October 4; Jayson Musson . themodern.org/ . 25 September 2011 . 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111005012842/http://www.themodern.org/lectures.html . 5 October 2011 .
8. Web site: Jayson Scott Musson Biography on Electronic Arts Intermix; Jayson Musson. eai.org . 13 July 2012. 2012.
9. Web site: Jayson Musson explains art history as a sitcom, at Philly’s Fabric Workshop . 2024-01-10 . WHYY . en-US.
10. Web site: Fleisher/Ollman Gallery » Exhibitions » Jayson Musson: The Truth in the Song . 2024-01-10 . www.fleisher-ollmangallery.com . en.
11. Web site: Archived copy . 2012-11-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121117094045/http://www.philebrity.com/2012/11/12/jayson-musson-continues-to-be-awesome-made-art-out-of-cosby-sweaters/ . 2012-11-17 . dead .