Jay Kaplan began studying art as a welder at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst where he graduated with a BA in Creative Writing.
He went to New York City and was hired as a sculptor at Jeff Koons’ studio where he spent two years working on the Koons Celebration Series.
Kaplan received an MFA in sculpture from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. He was granted the Outstanding Student Award.
He worked as a freelance sculptor on projects for Paul McCarthy and Barbara Kruger, and produced body castings at Studio EIS in Brooklyn for museums, theme parks, and casinos.
Murray Moss, a member of the MoMA Board of Directors and the owner of the “best design store in America” according to the New York Times featured Jay’s work at his store.
Stefan Beckman the NY set designer hired Kaplan to style sets for fashion editorials and ad campaigns working with photographers such as Herb Ritts, Patrick Demarchelier, Steven Miesel, Peter Lindbergh, Mario Testino, Ellen Von Unwerth, Jean-Baptiste Mondino, Craig McDean, and Carter Smith.
The Banana Republic Fall 2007 ad campaign was based on and featured Jay’s paintings.
Kaplan has recently completed “Ellis, D. The Dock Ellis Experience.” A group of fifteen poured resin paintings chronicling the life of Dock Ellis, a controversial professional baseball player from the 1970’s.
