Jerry Wayne Bowling

I was born Jerry Wayne Bowling in Hazard Kentucky in 1944. My mother and I relocated to Columbus, Ohio 1952 and moved frequently throughout my childhood. Each of these moves combined together to give me a unique perspective into the world around me and a dramatic insight into the subtle differences and beauty in its diversity. During these formative years I developed an interest in drawing for me to capture the beauty that exists in the world around me.

While attending North High School I began to expand on my interest in the arts and began to discover the world of photography. While in high school my art teacher, Mr. Roberts, saw the promise and quality in my work and recommended me for a scholarship to the Columbus College of Art and Design. Following my year at CCAD, I attended the Ohio State University. After a year at OSU, I came to the realization that that academics while important did not give me the creative outlet and satisfaction that I as a young artist craved. As a result of this discovery, I applied for a position in window display at Morehouse Fashion in downtown Columbus.

While employed at Morehouse, I was given the opportunity to continue and grow the strong interest in photography that I had, as well as flex my creative muscle to develop compelling merchandise composition in the store’s display windows. During this time, I entered and won a national window display contest held by Burlington fabrics. Coming from rural Kentucky it was exciting to do display in a vibrant urban setting. Building on my success at Morehouse, I pursued an opportunity with Lazarus. The opportunity was exciting for two reasons. Lazarus was and remains the premier department store in central Ohio, and as a division of Federated Department store led to greater exposure within the advertising and display industry.

At Lazarus advertising and display were individual sections in the Art department, yet members of each worked closely together. During this time, I continued to shoot and accumulate a considerable fashion and beauty portfolio. One wonderful day the head of the advertising department took a look at my portfolio and asked if I would do the fashion photography for the store. I pondered for a mere second and accepted. This exciting and unbelievable opportunity led to national exposure in Glamour, Mademoiselle and Town and Country. Even through my rise to professional photographer consumed a considerable amount of time. I continued to shoot what photographers call “personal stuff”. An artist personal stuff are images that are more personal interest and inspiration and separate from commercial work.

During this same period, I shared studio space with a photographer friend, Roger Phillips. It was in this studio I got the call that shaped the next phase of my career. The Limited Stores called and asked if I would be interested in doing their fashion photography. This was a golden opportunity and of course I accepted. While working with the Limited I partnered with a designer friend, by the name of Jack Zoog on a brochure for the Ohio State University. This brochure garnered national awards from the Meade Paper Company for photo and design layout in 1975, I began to share my personal stuff with the public and entered into a photo calendar contest sponsored by Directions for Youth. I won both first and second place and my first-place shot were prominently displayed on the calendar’s cover.

Subsequent to this time I had opened a studio on Indianola Avenue and pursued advertising assignments for many companies in and around the Columbus area. In addition, I continued to shoot my personal stuff and add to my personal archive of photo negatives. In an effort to expand my talent and eye as a photographer I traveled extensively in Europe and the Caribbean as well as the United States. During these years I was fortunate to have met and had the opportunity to photograph some very famous personalities including Elijah Pierce, Marcel Marceau, Imogene Cunningham, Minor White, Ralph Gibson, Les Krims, Martin Scorcese, Judd Hirsch, Smoke Brown and Sugar Ray Robinson.

Recently I have begun to share the beauty of the “personal” creativity I have nurtured over the past thirty years. I have begun to develop print and exhibit a small portion of my portfolio. Starting in November of 2001, I entered the Columbus Alive photo contest and won best of show with my portrait of Elijah Pierce: The Woodcarver. One week later this print was accepted into the permanent collection of the Columbus Museum of Art. I entered the same print in the Ohio State Far Fine Arts Exhibition and received an Art Patron’s Purchase Award for $600.00. For the second year running I entered to Columbus Alive photo competition and won “Best of Show” with my print “The Painter’s Hand” and also won first place in the humorous category with shot of “The Ugly Face Contest”. Currently my work is displayed in places such as Promenade Gallery in Berea, Kentucky; Black Arts Plus in Columbus, Ohio; Elemental in Columbus, Ohio; and the Olde Mohawk in German Village.

I have greatly enjoyed my involvement in photography and my life has been blessed and enriched in many ways because of it. More important than the recognition is that the prints have feeling and meaning to them When viewing these prints, I feel I have captured a small part of true beauty that surrounds us, if we just take a moment to look.

Thank you all,

Jerry Bowling

Jerry’s final employment was with F&W Properties in Columbus, Ohio. He was survived by his work family after his retirement. He lived alone for a few years until his illnesses were too overwhelming for him. He moved to Whetstone Care Facility where he lived out his last several years.