After completing a BA in history from Kenyon College, Jeff Way moved to New York City from Ohio to pursue graduate study in Art History at NYU’s Institute of Fine Arts supported by a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship. While at NYU, Way found that he was no longer satisfied with art history scholarship and writing; instead, he wanted to paint. He began working as a preparator at the Guggenheim Museum as he transferred his studies to the Graduate Studio Art Program at NYU, completing a master’s degree there. This work, combined with graduate fine art studies, afforded him daily exposure to great works of art, which was deeply inspiring. Influenced by an exhibition of German Expressionist painting with particular emphasis on portrait heads by Jawlensky and Nolde, heads became a major motif in Way’s paintings. While always continuing to paint, Way also became involved in mask making: an important aspect of his work from 1975 onward. From 1977 to 1992, mask making led to the development of a performance piece, “Transformations”, incorporating multiple layers of masks and costumes combined with movement and sound. The idea of transformation goes to the heart of what the artist considers art to be, transferring idea into image; spirit into matter. The artist has shown multiple times at the Whitney Museum and curator Marcia Tucker selected him for the 1973 Whitney Biennial. He has also shown at the New Museum in New York City, and his works have been reviewed in the New York Times and Artforum, among other renowned publications. Way has also worked as a professor since 1968, and has always considered teaching to be an extension of his artistic practice. Since 1985, the artist has served on the faculty at the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. Since 1969, Jeff Way has exhibited in numerous one-person and group shows in the US including solo shows at the Whitney Museum, Franklin Furnace and Mitchell Algus Gallery. Also significant group shows at MOMA PS1 and Artists Space. Internationally, in Italy, Portugal, and a two person show in Seoul, S. Korea. His work has been featured in Art in America, the New Yorker and more, and his work is held in various collections including the Whitney Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Denver Museum of Art. Way has received funding from both the NY State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.